District 88 shares important information regarding mental health and social-emotional supports available for students, staff and families

At District 88, the safety, health and well-being of students and staff is our No. 1 priority.

We know building relationships precedes learning, and we continue to focus on connecting with all students. For students to achieve academically, we must first meet their needs outside of the classroom – including providing mental health and social-emotional assistance.

Read about available mental health and social-emotional supports/services below (or at www.dupage88.net/Supports).

  1. Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) staff: The PPS teams at Addison Trail and Willowbrook consist of school counselors, social workers, psychologists, deans and nurses. For details, including how to request assistance, CLICK HERE.

  2. Student groups: These opportunities provide cohesiveness and an environment where students feel safe and can discuss the issues they are facing. A variety of topics are offered each year, including grief/loss, social skills, anger management and anxiety. For more information, contact the Addison Trail School Counseling Department at 630-628-3318 or the Willowbrook School Counseling Department at 630-530-3419.

  3. Elyssa’s Mission SOS Signs of Suicide: This program teaches students and staff how to recognize the signs of suicide using the ACT technique, which stands for Acknowledge, Care and Tell. SOS educates students on how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers, while training school professionals, parents and community members to recognize at-risk students and take appropriate action.

  4. Community partnerships (services available on campus at Addison Trail and Willowbrook):
    • Serenity House meets the increasing demands for substance abuse treatment through a full continuum of care that includes Adult and Adolescent Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient services, DUI, as well as Halfway Houses and Recovery Homes. CLICK HERE to read more.

    • Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services (NEDFYS) is a community-based, nonprofit organization that provides high-quality, accessible mental health and social services to underserved residents of DuPage County. NEDFYS works with children, adolescents, adults and families from diverse backgrounds to promote physical and mental wellness, healthy relationships and cognitive and social skill development. CLICK HERE to read more.

  5. Emergency hotlines: Bullying of any kind is not tolerated at District 88, and there is a bullying hotline at each school. Anyone who wishes to make an anonymous report can contact the Emergency Hotlines below. For more information regarding anti-bullying, see the District 88 Handbook at dupage88.net/Handbook.
  6. ReferralGPS: This is a free, web-based service that assists students, staff and community members in finding local treatment for mental health and substance use needs. Along with a searchable database, ReferralGPS provides appointment setting, follow-up care and help for families in triage. The program accepts a variety of private and public insurance and also is available to those who are uninsured or underinsured. Information entered into the system is confidential and securely stored. To access counseling-related services through ReferralGPS, contact the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) staff at Addison Trail or Willowbrook, or go to https://referralgps.com/find-help/dupage88.

  7. Senate Bill 1577: According to the Illinois General Assembly website, “(This bill) amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. With respect to the exceptions to the compulsory attendance requirement, (this bill) provides that absence for cause by illness shall include the mental or behavioral health of a student for up to 5 days for which the child need not provide a medical note, in which case the child shall be given the opportunity to make up any school work missed during the mental or behavioral health absence. After the second mental health day used, the child may be referred to the appropriate school support personnel.” CLICK HEREto read more. 

  8. Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide: Whether you are a student, a parent/guardian, or an educator, this resource guide was developed to help you know where to find help in the event sexual abuse is suspected, reported and/or being investigated. CLICK HEREto read more.

  9. External resources: For anyone experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, there are various resources available. CLICK HEREfor details.

We are here to support our families. If your child is in need of assistance, please contact us, and be sure to use the resources listed above. We truly appreciate your continued support and partnership to ensure the health and well-being of our students.