Helping Students Thrive—In School and in Life
Every student faces challenges from time to time. Whether those challenges involve friendships, family changes, anxiety, emotional well-being, behavior, or simply learning how to navigate life’s ups and downs, students don’t have to face them alone.
At Central Linn School District, we believe students are most successful when they feel safe, supported, connected, and ready to learn. Our Counseling and Mental Health services focus on helping students develop the social, emotional, and behavioral skills they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Our goal is not simply to respond when problems arise, but to help students build resilience, strengthen healthy relationships, develop positive coping strategies, and learn skills that support lifelong well-being.
Looking for Academic Advising?
This page is dedicated to student social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health support. Please visit our Academic Advising page, where you’ll find information and contacts related to educational planning and academic support if you have questions about:
- Graduation requirements
- Course selection
- Class schedules
- College planning
- Career planning
- Credits or transcripts
- Advanced Opportunities
- Academic progress
Understanding Our Support Services
Students have different needs, and different staff members are available to provide support depending on the situation.
School Counselor
Our School Counselor provides support for students experiencing personal, social, emotional, or behavioral concerns that may be affecting their well-being or their ability to be successful at school. The counselor also works collaboratively with families, school staff, and community partners when additional support or resources may benefit a student.
Students may meet with the counselor to discuss concerns such as:
- Managing stress or anxiety
- Friendship and peer relationships
- Conflict resolution
- Grief and loss
- Family changes
- Emotional regulation
- Building healthy coping skills
- School engagement and motivation
- Personal concerns affecting school success
Behavior Specialist
Our Behavior Specialist works with students, staff, and families to promote positive behavior, improve school engagement, and help students develop the skills needed to be successful in school. The goal is always to understand the reasons behind behavior and work together to identify positive, practical solutions that help students succeed.
Support may include:
- Individual behavior support
- Social skills development
- Positive behavior strategies
- Functional behavior support
- Collaboration with teachers and families
- Crisis response and problem-solving
- School-wide behavior initiatives
We Are Here to Help
Every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued.
Whether a student is navigating a difficult season, learning new ways to manage emotions, building stronger relationships, or simply needs someone to listen, our counseling and behavioral support staff are here to help students grow, overcome challenges, and continue moving forward.
No concern is too small to start a conversation. If you believe your child could benefit from additional support, we encourage you to reach out. Working together, we can help every student feel connected, supported, and ready to succeed.
Mental Health Services and Emotional Wellness Supports
We recognize that mental health is foundational to academic success, personal development, and overall student thriving. We understand that emotional well-being and cognitive learning are deeply intertwined. When students feel safe, seen, and supported, they are better able to engage meaningfully with school, peers, and their future goals. We reject outdated models that treat mental health as a crisis-only issue. Instead, we embrace a comprehensive, preventative, and trauma-informed approach to mental wellness embedded into our daily school structures. Every student has the right to support systems that affirm their dignity, address their challenges, and foster hope.
Our Multi-Tiered Mental Health Model – Mental health services are provided through our tiered Student Success and Support Team (MTSS Team), which includes school counselors, contracted mental health professionals, the MTSS Team, and external partners. Services are offered at the universal, targeted, and intensive levels to match each student’s needs.
Tier 1: Universal Supports
- Wellness Check-ins embedded into advisory sessions and House meetings
- SEL curriculum aligned to CASEL competencies and school values
- Mental health literacy campaigns, such as Mental Health Awareness Month
- Workshops on stress management, mindfulness, and emotional regulation
- SafeOregon Tip Line education (confidential student reporting)
Tier 2: Targeted Supports
- Small group counseling (e.g., grief, anxiety, self-esteem, peer relationships)
- Referral to contracted mental health providers for short-term intervention
- Restorative Circles designed to repair harm and reconnect students to community
- Regular meetings with school counselors or interventionists
- Supportive outreach to families, with translated materials and inclusive access
Tier 3: Intensive Supports
- Individualized risk assessment and crisis response
- Development of safety plans for students experiencing suicidal ideation or harm to self/others
- Coordination with community-based mental health providers
- Wraparound services for students impacted by trauma, abuse, or severe anxiety
- Re-entry planning following hospitalization or out-of-school crisis events
Student-Centered and Trauma-Informed Practices
All mental health services are guided by the following principles:
- Confidentiality: Conversations are private unless a student discloses risk of harm to self or others, abuse, or legal obligations requiring mandated reporting.
- Voluntary Access: Students may self-refer or be referred by parents/teachers. No student is forced to engage in counseling services unless legally or medically warranted.
- Cultural Responsiveness: Our team works to understand and affirm each student’s background, identity, and preferred mode of support.
- Restorative Relationships: Services are grounded in empathy and connection, not behavior control or punitive responses.
- Collaboration with Families: We seek parent input and partnership, especially for students receiving long-term or intensive mental health support.
Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention
We maintain suicide prevention protocols aligned with state and national best practices. These include:
- Staff training on suicide warning signs, response protocols, and safety planning
- Student education on how to seek help for themselves or a peer
- Immediate intervention by trained professionals in cases of concern
- Referral to emergency services or outside providers when warranted
- Ongoing monitoring and re-integration planning after a crisis
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
All staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse, neglect, or imminent danger. Failure to report is a legal violation and may jeopardize student safety. Training is conducted annually, and families may request a summary of mandated reporting policies.
- Under ORS 419B.010, any school employee who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused must report immediately to law enforcement or DHS.
- Annual training is required for all staff to recognize and report signs of abuse.
Confidential Reporting Lines:
SafeOregon – We encourage all students, families, and staff to use state-run tip lines to report concerns about safety, bullying, threats, or mental health risks. All reports are kept confidential and are triaged by a safety team that includes school leadership and external authorities if required.
SafeOregon
- Website: www.safeoregon.com
- Call or Text: 844-472-3367
- Email: tip@safeoregon.com
- App: SafeOregon mobile app (free)
Federal Protections:
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- Civil Rights Act, Title VI and Title IX
Oregon
- ORS 331.201 – Suicide prevention and mental health in schools
- ORS 419B.010 – Mandatory reporting of child abuse
- OAR 581-022-2510 – Comprehensive counseling services
- OAR 581-021-0550 – Mental health notification procedures