Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Intentional Coordination and/or Referral to Community Providers (E,M,H)*
The Request for Assistance (RFA) process provides a formal way for counselors and social workers to refer students for school-based mental health counseling. Through this process, students can access support services offered by one of the school system’s 22 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with partnering agencies. This ensures timely and appropriate care to meet students’ mental health needs.
Contact Person:
Laura Terrell
Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Consultation and/or Resources to Families (E,M,H)*
Student services staff, school counselors, and school social workers provide consultation and resources to support families and staff. This includes guidance on mental health, academic, and social-emotional needs, as well as connections to community-based services.
Contact Person:
Laura Terrell
Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Mental Telehealth (E,M,H, HCSD)*
Students and staff can access tele-mental health services offered by many of the 22 MOUs serving Hall County Schools. These services provide convenient, confidential counseling and support through secure virtual platforms. This allows for flexible scheduling and expanded access to mental health care without leaving the school setting.
Contact Person:
Laura Terrell
Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Ivester House (E,M,H, HCSD)*
FREE Counseling Services for our HCSD students and their families, and high school students may self-refer. Located in Chicopee Village next to Ivester Early College, for all Hall County Employees, Hall County student families, and the community will be served on a sliding scale of no more than $20 per regular visit.
Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Hawks Health – Medlink (E,M,H, HCSD)*
School-based health center serving students, staff, and family members
Contact Person:
Andrea Williamson-English/School Nurse
andrea.williamson-en@hallco.org
Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Employee Assistance Program (HCSD)*
The Employee Assistance Program offers up to five face-to-face sessions each year for individual counseling, legal support, and financial planning. Online resources are always available and include timely articles, tutorials, “ask the expert” tool, and will preparation program.
Contact Person:
Laura Terrell
Tier 3 (Few, 5%)
Community Mentoring (E,M,H,)*
Community mentoring connects students with trusted adults who provide guidance, support, and encouragement.
Contact Person:
Jacob Weiers
https://centerpointga.org/mentoring/
Tier 2 (SOME, up to 15%)
Dialectical Skills Groups (M,H, HCSD)* – in person or virtual
Dialectical Skills Groups (DSGs) are small-group (6–8 students), Tier 2 interventions that help students build key resiliency skills in areas like emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and effective relationships. Led by trained facilitators—including CASIs and a DSG-trained counselor in every middle and high school (each of whom is required to facilitate at least three groups per year)—these evidence-based groups support students who need more than universal Tier 1 strategies. DSGs contribute to a positive school climate by reducing behavioral disruptions, improving student engagement, and helping students build strong connections with trusted adults on campus. HCSD offers DSGs to students, staff, and families, and we’re in our 5th year of implementation.
Contact Person:
Joy Schofield
Dialectical Skills Groups – Hall County Schools
Tier 2 (SOME, up to 15%)
Resiliency Skills Groups (E)*
Small group curriculum focused on building self-awareness and self-management skills by exploring emotions, understanding the Think-Feel-Act cycle, and practicing healthy coping strategies.
Contact Person:
Renee Janes
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
Trauma/Mental Health Awareness
(+ Core Behavioral Health Skills)
The Trauma and Mental Health Awareness + Core Behavioral Health Skills Training equips participants with practical tools to understand trauma, recognize youth mental health challenges, and respond with effective, compassionate strategies. Through frameworks such as “Think, Feel, Act” and Colvin’s “Cycle of Escalating Behavior,” participants build skills in co-regulation, communication, and empathy while learning to identify signs of crisis, including suicide risk. The training emphasizes fostering resilience and creating inclusive, trauma-informed environments where youth feel safe, supported, and empowered.
Contact Person:
Joy Schofield
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
Professional Learning Series
The Professional Learning Series offers one series of lessons tailored for elementary schools and another designed for combined middle and high schools. Each 20-minute session provides a quick review of key concepts from the Trauma and Mental Health Awareness + Core Behavioral Health Skills Training and includes a one-minute student video that sparks discussion and application of the skills. Typically facilitated by principals—but adaptable for other leaders—these sessions keep trauma-informed and behavioral health practices active, practical, and connected to real classroom experiences.
Contact Person:
Joy Schofield
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
PBIS (E,M,H)*
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success, and school climate. It also improves teacher health and wellbeing. It is a way to create positive, predictable, equitable and safe learning environments where everyone thrives.
Contact Person:
E = Susan Miller; M/H = Jason Byars
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
Safer, Smarter Kids (E)*
Counselors provide prevention-focused personal safety lessons that fulfill Erin’s Law requirements.
Contact Person:
Renee Janes
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
Signs of Suicide (M,H)*
Signs of Suicide or SOS is an evidence-based youth suicide prevention program that teaches middle and high school students how to identify warning signs of suicide and depression, encouraging students to ACT® (Acknowledge Care and Tell) if they are worried about themselves or a friend.
Contact Person:
Jenny Chapple
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
Sources of Strength (M,H)*
Sources of Strength is a best practice, strength-based, upstream suicide prevention and mental health promotion program that has shown effectiveness in both preventative upstream and intervention outcomes
Contact Person:
Jenny Chapple
Tier 1 (All, 100%)
Counselor Classroom Guidance
Classroom guidance lessons are delivered using the PurposeFull People curriculum by CharacterStrong.
Contact Person:
Renee Janes
Tier 2 (SOME, up to 15%)
Performance Based Supports (E)*
CharacterStrong T2 support is designed for students who have the skills but struggle to use them consistently.
Contact Person:
Renee Janes
CharacterStrong Tier 2 Supports
Tier 2 (SOME, up to 15%)
Skill Building Groups (E)*
CharacterStrong T2 support is designed for students who lack the skills to meet behavioral expectations.
Contact Person:
Renee Janes
CharacterStrong Tier 2 Overview