CCSF Mental Health Relief Fund
The Cherry Creek Schools Foundation (CCSF) is committed to ensuring that every student has access to the mental health resources they need to thrive. In coordination with the Cherry Creek School District (CCSD), the Foundation established the Mental Health Relief Fund to provide critical support for students, families, and local communities. This fund bridges gaps in access, offering assistance where traditional funding sources fall short.
Working hand-in-hand with district staff, CCSF identifies areas of greatest need and directs resources to programs and services that make a tangible difference in the lives of students and educators. From individualized support to group therapy initiatives, our donor-supported fund is transforming the way mental health care is delivered in our schools.
CCSD Mental Health Resource Program
The CCSD Mental Health Resource Program (MHRP) was designed to eliminate barriers that often prevent students from accessing quality mental health support. Whether families are facing financial challenges, navigating insurance complexities, or struggling to find specialized care, MHRP provides a critical bridge to ensure students receive the help they need.
Through this program, district mental health staff work directly with students and families who meet the program's criteria and have been referred by in-school mental health staff, such as counselors, psychologists, or social workers. This ensures that students most in need of support are identified quickly and provided with the right care.
A dedicated MHRP coordinator also assists students and families by connecting them with experienced therapists who specialize in areas such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. This collaborative approach ensures to make each step of the process - from referral to treatment - seamless and supportive.
Key Benefits of MHRP:
- Ensures students are connected to appropriate resources through trusted school staff referrals.
- Tailors services to address each student’s specific needs.
- Removes financial and logistical obstacles to accessing care.
By combining the expertise of district mental health staff with the generosity of donors, the MHRP is creating a vital safety net for students, helping them achieve emotional well-being and academic success.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Support
Social-emotional learning (SEL) plays a pivotal role in creating a healthy school environment where students feel understood, valued, and equipped to manage life’s challenges. Recognizing this, CCSF integrates SEL principles into its mental health initiatives to help students build essential skills such as:
- Self-awareness: Understanding emotions and how they influence behavior.
- Self-management: Developing strategies to regulate emotions and behaviors.
- Social awareness: Cultivating empathy and respect for others.
- Relationship skills: Building and maintaining positive relationships.
- Responsible decision-making: Making ethical, constructive choices.
Through SEL-focused workshops, classroom support, and specialized resources, CCSF empowers students to strengthen their emotional inteigence, improve peer interactions, and enhance their readiness for academic and life success.
Pilot Program: Judi’s House
Recognizing the unique challenges that grief can bring, CCSF and CCSD partnered with Judi’s House, a leading nonprofit in grief care, to launch a pilot program focused on elementary students. This initiative offered group therapy sessions to help children process loss in a safe, supportive environment.
The success of this pilot program has paved the way for expanding similar services to more students across the district, ensuring that those who are navigating grief receive the specialized care they need. You can read more about the program’s impact in.
Read the story in Chalkbeat.
More Partnerships and Services
The Mental Health Relief Fund enables the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation (CCSF) to collaborate with trusted organizations that extend vital mental health services to our students and families. One of the key partnerships is with Servicios De La Raza, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing culturally responsive care and holistic support to diverse communities.
Through this partnership, students and families in the Cherry Creek School District have access to bilingual and bicultural therapists who understand the unique challenges faced by underserved populations. Servicios De La Raza offers therapy and support tailored to address a wide range of needs.
This partnership ensures that language, cultural differences, and financial constraints do not become barriers to receiving care. By integrating these services into the district’s mental health initiatives, CCSF is creating a more inclusive and accessible support system for all students and families.
For more information about our mental health programs, please contact:
Jill Henden, Executive Director
720.554.4409 | jhenden@cherrycreekschools.org
