Fiscal Year 2024 → Question 1

In order to grasp the funding, Ms. Rivera-Oven would like to get information on the number of students being served by the wellness positions.

Question#: 31

ANSWER:

In addition to the Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) operating budget funding traditional mental health and well-being positions such as counselors and psychologists that support all students in MCPS, new social worker positions and Community School Wellness Trainers were added in Fiscal Year 2023.

Social Workers–Wellbeing: Social worker–well-being positions served approximately 2,044 students between July 1, 2022, and January 19, 2023.

Wellness Trainers: Wellness trainer positions serve all students, families, and staff in the Community School. Wellness trainers served approximately 15,279 students across the 26 Community Schools through in-class mindfulness activities and during non-instructional time, such as recess, lunch, and after-school activities.

Student Well-Being Teams Data (since July 1, 2022):  Data on students served by the school-based Student Well-Being Teams follows.

RACE/ETHNICITY
TOTAL
SERVICES
TOTAL
  American Indian or Alaska Native
11
IEP/504
742
  Asian
123
EML
1,128
  Black or African American
657
FARMS
2,155
  Hispanic/Latino
1,400
  Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
3
  Two or More Races
118
  White
433
  Total students served
2,745

*Note: A student may receive services for more than one category.

In addition to the wellness positions funded through the MCPS operating budget, the county funds the Bridge to Wellness and Wellness Centers programs through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These programs are a collaboration between MCPS, DHHS, and community non-profits to provide services to assure the health, safety, and well-being of all the approximately 162,000 students enrolled in MCPS schools.