School counseling programs get funds

CITY HALL — Anticipating another state raid of Burbank Unified School District coffers, the City Council allocated nearly $300,000 to school-based counseling programs designed to address self-esteem, anger management, substance abuse and familial relationships.

The council, after hearing from parents, counselors and district officials, unanimously approved allocating $275,000 to counseling provider the Family Service Agency of Burbank, $7,000 to Teens in Action Media Communication Team and $5,000 to the Police Youth Rewards Program at its meeting last week.

Deputy Supt. Joel Shapiro opened the lengthy discussion by asking the district’s administrators, principals, teachers and counselors in attendance to stand up.

“I think their presence indicates their support for this program,” Shapiro said. “I can tell you that many of those students would not have made it through the school year and still be attending school at the end of the year if it weren’t for this program.

“The support they’ve received from Family Service Agency counselors has made the difference in their ability to cope, their ability to get up in the morning and come to school, their ability to make it through the day.”

The school counseling program last year served 600 children more than 5,500 treatment hours, said Heather Sardella, clinician and coordinator of the elementary school counseling program. On average, the program affects about 8% to 10% of the district’s 16,577 students.

Three families, with eight children total, have sought help after losing their mothers to emergencies and in sudden deaths, said Ginny Goodwin, an agency director who works with parents.

“We are partnering with fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and school staff members in helping these children process this loss, as we provide for them the emotional support that they need to get back on their feet,” she said.

The program serves not only in-need youth, but also the entire campus community, said Providencia Elementary Principal Tom Kissinger. When students and families are in pain, their struggles often play out at school, he said.