(PSS) — The Public School System is proud to announce Project Healthy, Affirming, Locally Inclusive Grant Initiative for Advancing Awareness and Resilience in Education or HALIGI AWARE.
HALIGI AWARE is a new program under the PSS Office of Student & Support Services created to encourage students, families and staff to avail free mental health referral services.
HALIGI AWARE promotes mental health awareness, not only at the school level but at the community level.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Alfred Ada said, “The mental wellness of our students and faculty is a priority and in order to produce thriving learners we need to pay careful attention to their mental wellness.”
The program aims to increase awareness and increase access to mental-care through establishing preventative layers of a multi-tiered system.
Tier 1 is a universal approach where HALIGI AWARE generally wants to create a safe environment to promote healthy and successful students.
Tier 2 is a targeted approach where HALIGI AWARE staff identifies students and staff at risk and places them in small groups of a specialized mental health program, led by a mental health professional.
Tier 3 is where intensive support is provided specifically to the individual’s needs and referred to community mental health partners for additional support.
The program is designed to support students in all 20 schools in the CNMI to help those who experience hopelessness, depression and work toward resilience/strength.
In the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 48% of PSS students indicated that they experienced these alarming emotions and 29% seriously considered attempting suicide.
HALIGI AWARE strives to strengthen the mental well-being of our students and create a positive environment by connecting home and community to schools.
Program director Dr. Boni Pangelinan said, “With over 10,000 students in PSS, our counselors and mental health professionals are the guardians of our students’ academic success, social and emotional well-being. A goal of HALIGI AWARE is to equip every school with the American School Counselor Association recommended ratio of school counselors to students be 1:250, compared to the current PSS average ratio of 1:323.”
Additional goals that HALIGI AWARE will accomplish is a system-wide enhancement establishing school-based behavioral and mental health services for our students and families.
HALIGI AWARE staff will also implement behavioral health methods that help give access to reliable services within the school and community.
HALIGI AWARE prepares our teachers and administrative staff to recognize and respond to behavioral health and mental health issues among our students.
Establishing this would give our students immediate on-site response and referral.
HALIGI AWARE aims to strengthen its presence in the community by conducting accessible outreaches to engage with our students and their families.
Accomplishing this goal would create a positive environment for our students both in school and the community.
Furthermore, HALIGI AWARE is geared to center our students and help them be in control of their mental wellness and be able to assist their peers to do the same.
Board of Education Chairman Andrew L. Orsini said, “Our children’s minds cannot concentrate on school if they’re busy concentrating on something else. By caring about a child’s mental health, we are also molding their ability to attain knowledge and skills they can apply their whole lives. Our counselors and mental health professionals are vital to our students and community for they have the ability to shape the heart and mind.”
HALIGI AWARE supports PSS’s goal of providing a safe and caring learning environment that supports behavioral health and academic achievement of all students. Haligi is the Chamorro term for the pillar of the Latte Stone, and like the haligi, we are here to support you.
If you or someone that you care for needs immediate support, call:
• PSS Student and Support Services at 664-3822. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Systems of Care at 664-4604. Office hours are 7:30a .m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800) 273-8255 which provides counseling and support 24 hours a day.
• If it is an emergency please call 911 or go to the CHCC Emergency Room.
The Board of Education holds a special meeting Thursday presided over by Chairman Andrew L. Orsini. Also in photo are teacher representative Phyllis Ain, BOE member Gregory Borja, BOE member Antonio Borja, BOE Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, Public School System finance and budget director Arlene Lizama, human resources director Lucretia Borja, associate commissioner for administrative services Eric Magofna, federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh, legal counsel Tiberius Mocano, accreditation program manager Marian Tudela, and BOE office manager Valerie Malwelbug.
PSS photo
