Mental Health and Wellness
- Meet your Wellness Team
- Virtual Calming Corner
- External Additional Resources
- Connection to the Community
- Services Offered
Meet your Wellness Team
Hello! My name is Maritza and I am the Wellness Coordinator here at Community Day! I am someone that students can talk to confidentially about all the things going on in life. I can help with ideas, support, referrals for more support, coping skills, advocating for you, or just listening without judgement. I am so glad you are here looking in to getting support because you are so worth it!
Hi! I’m Eric, the District Social Worker supporting Community Day. I'm here to support students with whatever life brings their way. Whether you're dealing with challenges at school, at home, or need someone to talk to. Students can connect with me confidentially for help with coping strategies, mental health support, referrals to outside resources, advocacy, or simply a safe space to be heard. If you're thinking about reaching out, I want you to know: you're not alone, and getting support is a strong and positive step. You matter, and I'm here to help.
Purpose and Roles of the Mental Health and Wellness Team
Purpose
The Mental Health and Wellness Team is an integrated group dedicated to providing resources, advocacy, and individual or group counseling, along with other supportive interventions that address the evolving needs of our diverse school community. Through collaboration and connection, the team uses a holistic approach to ensure all students have equitable access to support that fosters both emotional well-being and academic growth.
Roles
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Provide direct support to students, including individual or group services, as well as crisis response when necessary.
- Identify student needs and connect students and families to appropriate school-based and community services, while providing ongoing support and case management.
- Actively engage and partner with families, caregivers, and community organizations to support student well-being.
- Lead and coordinate the Coordination of Services Team (COST) to ensure that students receive comprehensive and timely support.
- Facilitate access to appropriate District services for identified students, including the Family Resource Center, Enrollment, Attendance and Truancy services, McKinney-Vento support, and Special Education services.
- Support students’ social-emotional development and help remove barriers to learning.
- Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and school staff to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment.
- Offer guidance, resources, and referrals to families to promote student success at home and at school.
- Advocate for students and families to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.
- Support students and families by coordinating transition meetings to and from Santa Clara Community Day School, and provide follow-up practices to help students successfully adjust to their next school placement.
Services Offered
Wellness News
Contact
Maritza Meraz, LMFT
Wellness Coordinator
mmeraz@scusd.net
408) 423-3268
Eric Garcia, ASW
District Social Worker
ergarcia@scusd.net
(408) 423-3695
Virtual Calming Corner
Steps for grounding coping skills: 4-3-2-1
- Name 4 blue things around you
- Name 3 circular things around you
- Name two things you can hear
- Name 1 thing you feel in your body
Steps for grounding coping skills: 7 and 2
- Name two musical artists
- Name two things you see to your right
Steps for breathing exercise coping skills: 4-7-8 Breathing
Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale slowly for 8 seconds and repeat 3 times.
Feeling stressed? Breathing is the easiest and simplest way to take control of our emotions. Try this deep breathing activity below!
You are enough. Your life and your mind matter. Here's a brief reminder from Brene Brown. :)
Words of Wellness
"This is a new year.
A new beginning.
And things will change."Taylor Swift
"Create the world you want, and fill it with the opportunities that matter to you.
Do not let others limit your power."Alicia Keys
External Additional Resources
Crisis Resources
You Are Not Alone: Support is Always Here
- It’s okay not to be okay. If you are going through a difficult time, please know that help is available right now. Your well-being is our priority, and reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. The following free, confidential resources are available 24/7. Whether you need to talk, text, or just need someone to listen, these trusted professionals are ready to support you.
- Provide the following for resources:
- 988 Suicide or Crisis hotline: Call or text 988
- Crisis text line: Text home to 741741
- The Trevor Project: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text STAR to 678-678
- SAMHSA National Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Connection to the Community
- Parent Collaboration
- Mission College
- Armed Forces Recruitment Opportunity
- Mission City Federal Credit Union
Parent Collaboration
We believe in a whole-family approach and partner closely with parents and caregivers to support student success. Our team helps connect families to resources that address a variety of needs, including food access, housing support, and employment preparation.
We also work alongside parents to provide guidance and strategies that strengthen parenting skills, enhance parent-child relationships, and address areas of concern. Additionally, we offer psychoeducation, which provides supportive information about diagnoses, available services, and treatment options. Enabling families to make informed decisions that best support their child and overall family well-being.
Mission College
Our school collaborates with local organizations and institutions to offer enriching learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom. For example, Mission College visits our campus to share information about their equitable admissions practices, student support services, and resources, including food assistance, parking support, and financial aid, which helps make college a realistic and attainable goal for our students.
Armed Forces Recruitment Opportunity
We also welcome representatives from the Armed Forces Recruitment Opportunity to inform students about pathways to enlistment and the life-changing benefits available through service, including leadership development, discipline, and opportunities such as the VA Home Loan Program and the GI Bill, which can provide financial support for higher education.
Mission City Federal Credit Union
Additionally, Mission City Federal Credit Union collaborates with our school to offer financial literacy education. Students learn essential skills such as budgeting, saving, and understanding banking services, and may participate in field trips to a local branch to learn how to open and manage a bank account.
Services Offered
Mental Health
Beyond academics, our school’s Mental Health and Wellness Team provides on-site mental health support and therapy services for students. Through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), eligible students may receive services with no out-of-pocket costs to their families, including co-payments and deductibles.
Our team works closely with students and their families to provide confidential, culturally responsive, and tailored support that meets each child’s unique needs. Services may include individual or group counseling, short-term interventions, crisis support, and referrals to community providers when additional care is needed.
Families are encouraged to partner with us, and referrals can be made by parents, caregivers, teachers, or school staff. Our goal is to reduce barriers to accessing mental health care and ensure students receive the support they need to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
Home Visits
Home visits are a supportive tool used by schools to connect with students who are experiencing chronic absences. The Mental Health and Wellness Team is trained to reach out to students and their families with care and respect, meeting them where they are.
When appropriate, home visits help build trust, strengthen relationships, and identify any barriers that may be impacting a student’s ability to attend school. These visits also allow the team to conduct a wellness check and connect families to resources and supports that promote student success.
El Joven Noble
A culturally rooted Rites of Passage program designed to guide young men on their journey from boyhood to responsible manhood. This comprehensive youth leadership development program supports students as they take their initial steps through a meaningful rites of passage experience.
The program is integrated into the school curriculum and runs for 12 weeks, with weekly 45-minute sessions. Through guided discussions, reflection, and community-centered practices, El Joven Noble promotes personal growth, responsibility, and positive identity development.