
We are excited to welcome Lauren Bessa to the USDA as our first School Social Worker! The role of a School Social Worker is to "enhance and improve the functioning of and relationships within and between families and systems which leads to improved student academic learning and social emotional health. School Social Workers use a wide range of evidence-based strategies to ensure that students are in the classroom physically and mentally ready to learn, based on a strengths-based approach that views students and organizations as parts of systems. “ WI DPI
Lauren comes to us from North Central Health Care where she was a child and adolescent mental health therapist working with students in the USDA through our on-site therapy program for the past two years and prior to that, was a case manager in the Community Treatment program. Lauren earned a Master’s degree in social work from UW Madison and is excited to continue to work within the USDA as our school social worker. Lauren is a native of Rhinelander, but has enjoyed working within the Antigo community over the last three years and has seen first hand the strong importance of community within the USDA. Lauren is excited to continue to provide services to children and families and believes that all students should have equitable opportunities to the level of support that they need, when they need it.
If you have questions about the mental health and/or social emotional services that we offer in the USDA, please contact your school counselor, building principal, Lauren Bessa, SSW at lbessa@antigoschools.org, or Heidi Preul, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education at hsiebert-preul @antigoschools.org or 715-627-4355 ext 1246.
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