Guidance News

 

Students, their families, and staff now have access to mental health care coordination services at no cost.

Understanding the profound impact of untreated mental health conditions, Eastern Regional takes an innovative step forward by partnering with Care Solace, a social purpose organization focused on removing barriers in accessing mental health care. The collaboration provides school district families and staff with access to Care Solace's care coordination services at no cost.

Eastern Regional will use Care Solace to support its commitment to ensuring accessible mental health care. This initiative demonstrates the district’s dedication to building a resilient community, where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

As a central hub of care, Care Solace streamlines communication and coordination to connect individuals with the right resources and appropriate level of care. Individuals seeking mental health care now have a trusted companion to rely on.

With a team of more than 500 dedicated Care Companions, Care Solace connects the Eastern community to over 560,000 licensed mental health and substance use treatment providers. Through a human-centered and technology supported approach, these Care Companions navigate the fragmented mental health care system on behalf of individuals, helping them find the perfect fit for their unique needs and insurance requirements. Their multilingual Care Companions are available 24/7/365 ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for the entire community.

"Care Solace is proud to support Eastern Regional in prioritizing the well-being of its students, staff and community, " says Chad Castruita, Founder & CEO. "Care Solace exists to calm the chaos that often surrounds mental health crises, providing a supportive and compassionate framework to help individuals regain control of their lives."

For more information about utilizing Care Solace's services, school district families can contact their child’s counselor.

To learn more about Care Solace and its services, visit caresolace.org.

Thank you,

Eastern is excited to welcome a very special new member of our Viking family:

Archie, a certified therapy dog! Archie is a 3-year-old Golden Retriever who works alongside Mrs. Pizzichello, Student Assistance Counselor, to support student and staff wellness across our school.

Archie and Mrs. Pizzichello are a registered team with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. They’ll be on campus each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, helping students manage stress, build connections, and bring a little calm to busy school days.

When you see Archie in the hallway, please remember a few friendly rules:
🐾 Treat him gently and respectfully
🍎 No feeding him snacks/food(unless received from Mrs. Pizzichello)
⏰ Don’t use Archie as a reason to be late to class

You can usually find Archie near the Counseling Office ready to brighten your day, one tail wag at a time! 💙

Families with questions or concerns about Archie’s work or therapy-dog visits can reach Mrs. Pizzichello at mpizzichello@eccrsd.us