A new program at Decatur ISD is helping administrators prepare to support schoolchildren following the unthinkable: the loss of a classmate or staff member.
The program, known as Jenny's Hope in Schools, is being unveiled at Decatur ISD thanks to support from the staff at Wise County Christian Counseling. For years, the local nonprofit has worked informally in DISD and other area schools to support grieving students, staff, and community members.
"In the beginning, it was more organic," said Beverly Ross, executive director of the organization. "We showed up at the schools and simply asked, "How can we help?"
With Jenny's Hope in Schools, a spinoff from the organization's Jenny's Hope initiative, those early drop-in visits are being formalized in a way that will help DISD counselors and administrators in the event of the unimaginable. The curriculum includes step-by-step processes based on the counseling center's years of experience. With its implementation, Decatur ISD is becoming the first school district to formally start the program. This September, staff at the counseling center met with DISD counselors to outline the program and receive feedback.
The goal, said Beverly, is to equip schools.
"The death of a classmate or teacher can disrupt childhood. Without appropriate support, lifelong health, well-being, and learning ability can be adversely affected," said Ross. "Everyone has to do their own grief work, but no one has to do it alone. We grieve best when we grieve in safe connections with one another."
Special Note: Wise County Christian Counseling offers professional counseling on a sliding scale based on income. And for those experiencing grieve outside of the school setting, the counseling center's Jenny's Hope initiative offers free services.