ICS’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT SPECIALIST
(425) 517-1383
Greetings ICS Students and Families,
My name is Ran Wang, and I use she/her pronouns. I am the new Behavioral Health Support Specialist from Youth Eastside Services. This is my first year with ICS, and I am thrilled to get started. Below is some information about myself, my role, and ways to contact me. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any concerns as we begin a new school year!
WHO:
I was born and raised in China until 18 and then traveled around the world. I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Seoul National University in South Korea and then completed my Master of Science in Counseling and Mental Health Services and Master of Philosophy in Professional Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. I have experience working with culturally diverse populations on a range of issues across different settings. My approach to counseling is an integration of person-centered, strength-based, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapies. I am dedicated to providing mental health services to all and supporting your health and growth. I love reading novels, watching dramas, playing video games, singing, and dancing in my spare time. If you also enjoy any of these, do share!
WHAT:
A behavioral Health Support Specialist is another word for Mental Health Counselor. Through the partnership between Lake Washington School District and Youth Eastside Services, I am able to provide mental health and substance use counseling to support this school. Examples of services I can provide are as follows:
Brief individual support to students on variety of topics
Small group support to address students’ concerns
Consultation with parents and supportive adults
Consultation with teachers
Classroom, parent, and staff presentations
Substance use assessments
Suicide risk assessments and safety planning
WHY:
Attending to well-being and addressing mental health concerns now supports better outcomes later.
RCW 71.05 and RCW 71.34 allows those 13 and over to initiate and consent to their own Behavioral Health Services. This means that if you are 12 years old or younger, you need parent permission to meet with me outside of the context of classroom presentations. You can briefly check-in with me once to plan on getting consent or have your parents available to give verbal consent. Those 13 and over can give or refuse their own consent, as well as can control their own confidentiality.
Confidentiality
Services with me are confidential. This means what happens in session stays in session except for mandatory reporting. Those who are 12 and under, parents have the right to be told what is happening in session, or to be involved in session. Those 13 and over consent for who I can disclose information to, with the encouragement that better results can be seen with family involvement in counseling.
Mandatory Reporting
Just like all other school staff, I am considered a mandatory reporter. This means I have legal requirements to report certain disclosures to outside entities, thus limiting confidentiality. Circumstances I would have to break confidentiality include reports or suspicions of abuse or neglect, intention to physically harm someone else, or intention and risk to harm yourself.
Crisis Resources
My contact information is not meant to be used in a crisis. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or currently suicidal and cannot keep yourself (or your child) safe, please call the numbers below.
Medical Emergencies / Intervention.......................................................................................... 911
Community Support Services.....................................................................……………………………. 211
The Crisis Connections (24/7) ..........................................................206.461.3222 or 866.427.4747
Teen Link Crisis Line (limited evening hours, chat, and text available online) ............ 206.461.4922
ReachOut: ReachOut is run by the Inspire USA Foundation, a non-profit organization. Its mission is to help young people lead happier lives. http://www.inspireusafoundation.org/
Washington School-Based Health Alliance: School-based health centers are emerging in Washington State and across the country as an effective way to deliver consistent, high-quality primary health care and mental health services to children and adolescents. http://schoolhealthcare.org/
Frontiers of Innovation is an initiative “committed to driving transformative change for young children whose needs are currently not being met. Adverse experiences can derail children’s healthy development, creative learning, behavior, and health challenges …” http://developingchild.harvard.edu/activities/frontiers_of_innovation/
Monday, December 5: Schools and Programs Start on Time. Snow Route Bus Service (AM and PM)
For Monday, December 5: Snow Route Bus Service (AM and PM). Schools and programs will start on time. We will notify families and staff in the morning if any schedule changes are needed.
Select “Busing” on the left-side menu. Snow routes will be labeled with “Snow” under the “Days” column.
Please note: It is possible that your “Snow Route” bus stops are the same as your regular stops.
Morning Snow Routes:
We always encourage riders to arrive at their stop at least five minutes early to ensure they do not miss the bus, as the bus will not return to the stop after it has left.
International Community School