Orange County NC Website
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10 <br /> provide services to middle and high school students. Southern Orange County has a Peer <br /> Mediation Program which focuses on education in dispute settlement. <br /> The Orange Person Chatham Mental Health Center (OPC-MHC), staffed with highly skilled <br /> psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers, does well in meeting the mental health needs of <br /> the adolescent in an acute crisis or with a substance abuse problem. Due to long waiting lists <br /> and fees for service, it is difficult to refer an adolescent not in an acute crisis for ongoing care <br /> or psychological testing in an attempt to better understand their behavior. The substance abuse <br /> counselor provided by OPC-MHC works with students through individual and group counseling <br /> as well as consultation to provide services to students involved with drugs and alcohol. Services <br /> are provided in the school and in a private setting at the Center. Plans to increase access and <br /> services to adolescents will be done through increasing individual referrals to the OPC-MHC <br /> through the clinic and school and by providing more on site services by a skilled provider for <br /> low morbidity psychological problems. <br /> The two School Systems serve adolescents through a variety of services provided by students, <br /> teachers, social workers, school psychologists, school nurses and health educators. In the <br /> Orange County School System students are involved in providing services through a Peer Helper <br /> Program which trains students in listening and information gathering skills which allows them <br /> to help facilitate referrals for peers in need of help in dealing with issues such as sexuality, <br /> loss, depression, medical problems, stress, academic pressure, family and relationship <br /> problems. Teachers provide ongoing services to students through the classroom and a Student <br /> Assistance Program that works toward improving school performance. In the chapel <br /> Hill/Carrboro School System teachers provide unique services to the students through the <br /> Student Assistance Program which serves students for whom chemical dependency is a real or <br /> potential obstacle to personal or academic success. Social workers and school counselors are <br /> active through out the school systems providing counseling for a broad range of issues from poor <br /> school performance to future education plans. A social worker is employed by both school <br /> systems who provides dropout prevention services for the middle and high school students. <br /> School psychologists provide on site psycho-educational testing and counseling. School nurses, <br /> employed by the school system and health department work to provide on-site screening and <br /> medical services and system wide health education. Both schools employ health educators who <br /> work together with other school personnel and the school nurse to plan and implement <br /> educational activities. Both school systems have staff on board who deal with substance abuse <br /> counseling and education. <br /> Other county agencies providing services to Orange County adolescents are Planned Parenthood <br /> of Orange an Durham County, Department of Social Services, Dispute Settlement Center, Orange <br /> County Women's Commission, rape Crisis, Orange County Parks and Recreation and the Juvenile <br /> Court system. <br /> The Adolescents-in-Need Project of the UNC Division of Community Pediatrics serves at risk <br /> students in the Orange County School system. This project serves as a portal of entry for <br /> students when no services exist or service is fragmented. A medical/social work team provides <br /> counseling and guidance to students in their homes and at school. Linkages to school and service <br /> providers produces a model that strives to insure comprehensive health and social services to <br /> students. <br /> If funding is granted it will provide for a project as described above to be developed in the <br /> chapel Hill/Carrboro School system, increased medical and mental health services in Northern <br /> Orange County, and allow for a coordinated network of services for adolescents in both school <br /> systems. The medical aspect of this project enables one site to pull together resources and <br /> develop a comprehensive treatment plan involving existing resources, family, and the <br /> adolescent. The medical focus of the clinic often gives legitimacy to a student's request for help <br />