School Based Support Services

Start with Hello relationship enhancing activity.

Having a trusting relationship with a caring adult in the school setting can increase positive school outcomes including improved student mental health, increased attendance and improved grades/credits. From learning difficulties to a family crisis to depression – there are many different reasons why students struggle in school. When these struggles become overwhelming, a student’s health and safety become a concern, as does the likelihood of successfully finishing school. Fortunately, in Butler County, hundreds of high school students are moving closer to graduation and a more promising future every day.

School Based Support Workers reduce and/or remove the barriers to academic achievement and increase students’ success and overall mental health. Support Workers are employees of LifeSpan who work on-site every day in local high school buildings to provide support to students, families and school staff. This service can be individually structured based on identified needs of the students, families, and school.

School Based Support Services are uniquely positioned to provide:

Academic Assistance: helping students set and achieve goals to keep them on track for graduation.
Prevention Services: engaging students to build skills allowing for personal and academic success using Sandy Hook Promise and Signs of Suicide.
Intervention Services: individual one-on-one student support including collaboration with parents and school staff as appropriate.
Mental Health Groups: peer support groups on topics such as anger management, conflict resolution, life skills.
Information and Referral: making referrals to community agencies that provide food, housing, medical or dental care, and more.
Crisis Intervention: support during times of crisis.

LifeSpan is the only agency in Southwest Ohio providing this level of service to students, parents, and schools.

97.5% of students were able to return to class after meeting with their School Based Support Worker

Q&A

How is a School Based Support Worker different from a school based therapist?

LifeSpan School Based Support Workers, while they have the same training and credentials, are not mental or behavioral health therapists. Support Workers can see any student as little or as often as needed since pre-authorization and billing of insurance is not required. They can also see any student immediately upon crisis and collaborate with any school staff member (administrators, teachers, etc.) to support the needs of students.

How is a School Based Support Worker different from a school counselor?

School counselors generally focus on curriculum, academics and future educational planning. School Based Support Workers are more involved in things that may be going on at home (social and family problems) that are interfering with a student’s ability to be successful at school. They provide information and support and help students, parents and school staff work together to solve problems by communicating and providing referrals to other resources.

What schools are the School Based Support Workers in?

Our School Based Support Workers are on campus every day during school hours at the following schools:

Manager of School Based Services & Life Coaching

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer joined Lifespan in 2014 where she served as a Life Coach Supervisor and Nationally Certified Guardian. She graduated from Miami University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology, minoring in both Family Studies and Kinesiology & Movement Therapy. Jennifer also has a degree in Dance Pedagogy from Sinclair and served as a youth dance instructor for over 10 years. Prior to joining Lifespan Jennifer worked at Beech Acres Parenting Center providing school based CPST services. She also studied in the graduate program of Professional Counseling at Liberty University from 2011-2013. Jennifer loves spending time with her husband and their four children, and always looks forward to summers on the lake.