As caring for students' mental health grows in importance, Dayton Children’s Hospital and Montgomery County saw the need to address these concerns by meeting students where they are: in the classroom. Three years ago, they created the role of Student Resiliency Coordinator (SRC) to help students throughout the greater Dayton area with an in-building social worker who provides students the tools to tackle the obstacles and challenges that arise in their lives. Whether students are experiencing coping or anxiety concerns or experiencing other personal trauma in their lives, the Student Resiliency Coordinator is available to meet with students, as well as their teachers and family members, to provide resources and strategies to help the students grow and find success.

At the start of this school year, Archbishop Carroll High School welcomed its own SRC, Jessica Wilson, as part of our Health and Wellness Program. Wilson has worked as a children’s services and mental health case manager for over 18 years, the majority of which she has worked directly with teenagers. “A lot of people misinterpret teenagers,” said Wilson, “They see them as difficult or hard to work with…I really enjoy working with them.”

Understanding that students have varying levels of need, students are able to meet with the Student Resiliency Coordinator if they need help with concerns, such as how to navigate social situations and to improve the student’s self-esteem. The SRC also can act as a liaison and provide a referral to other Dayton Children’s health professionals in order to address other mental healthcare needs.

With the exception of a weekly check-in with her colleagues at Dayton Children’s Hospital, Ms. Wilson is available to Archbishop Carroll Students throughout the school day. Through her work with Children’s Services, Ms. Wilson used to travel all over the state of Ohio to meet with teenagers in their various residencies, so she is very excited to be in the school building and have the opportunity to be available for students as often as a student needs.  

Dayton Children’s Hospital is seeing positive improvements in the lives of students and is currently hiring additional Student Resiliency Coordinators to expand the program and services in which they provide. Jessica Wilson is looking forward to her continued work with Patriot students. Said Wilson, “It’s making a difference in schools, and I’m really excited to be a part of this program.”