In the News: A Safe Space for Students Under Stress

The High School Wellness Center faces a significant threat due to school district budget cuts that have eliminated the full-time intake coordinator position. This role is essential for keeping the center open during school hours to meet the needs of Healdsburg students.

The total cost for the position is $84,000. The foundation has raised $25,000, leaving a $59,000 shortfall. Barbara and Howard Wollner, well-known benefactors of many local programs, donated $10,000 in July, making a significant contribution toward the goal. Other supporters of the Healthcare Foundation have contributed another $15,000 to date.

“The Healdsburg High School Wellness Center serves as a trusted, accessible space where students can seek support, build resilience, and access mental health services without stigma,” read a statement from the Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County. A follow-up conversation with Amy Ramirez, the foundation’s executive director, shed further light on the impact of this budget cut.

“The loss of this position has a direct impact on the availability of therapeutic services to students,” she said. “By placing additional administrative and care coordination responsibilities on clinicians, the elimination of the Intake Specialist reduces the time that the center can be open for direct services during school hours.”

Read the Full Article on the Healdsburg Tribune

The first day of school, Thursday Aug. 13, is a minimum day, so the time for donations and support is now.