The Armona Union Elementary School District (AUESD) goal is to provide a proactive, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate program to address students' academic goals in addition to supporting their personal and social needs. This is accomplished through a partnership with parents/guardians, staff, and community members to enable all students to become successful, productive citizens and lifelong learners in a diverse and changing world.

AUESD believes healthy children are more successful in school and life and that good mental health is critical to children’s success. Research demonstrates that students who receive social–emotional and mental health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, on-task learning, and students’ sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness but also encompasses social, emotional, and behavioral health and the ability to cope with life’s challenges. Left unmet, mental health problems are linked to costly negative outcomes such as academic and behavior problems, dropping out, and delinquency.

The AUESD Mental Health Clinician (Clinician) counsels and supports students with mental health related symptoms such as anxiety, trauma, anger management, stress reduction, conflict resolution and grief by encouraging students to talk about their feelings and help develop develop new strategies to improve their lives and relationships. The Clinician is specially trained in school system functioning and learning, as well as how students’ behavior and mental health impacts their ability to be successful in school. Areas of expertise include but are not limited to: classroom and behavior management, individual and group counseling, learning disabilities, school safety and crisis response, effective discipline, cultural competence, and consultation with educators, families and community providers. The Clinician often collaborates with community agencies if and when additional support is requested for the student.

This support service is available to ALL students, not just those with a mental health issue or in a crisis. Service is available on school campus, during school hours, and is FREE of cost. Students may be referred to counseling services by parent/caregiver, school staff, or by peers however, typically a referral is by recommendation of a teacher or school staff. If you feel your student may benefit from this type of support service, contact your school office.

Marcia Segura-Diaz, Mental Health Clinician (559) 583-5020 extn 2024 mdiaz@auesd.org