
SCHOOL - BASED CONSULTATION
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
School-based therapists are in schools to help with the emotional and behavioral needs of students, parents, teachers and the community. School-based treatment and consultation has been in existence for more than 20 years in Stark County and is a convenient option for many families.
Good mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social-emotional and mental health support perform better academically. School-based therapists are on-site and are able to help a student or teacher immediately, especially a student dealing with anxiety or strong emotions. Students who are struggling with emotional or behavioral issues are often affected academically and socially.
HOW ARE SCHOOL-BASED REFERRALS MADE?
School-based clinicians establish relationships with their school through CARE teams. CARE teams typically include multiple school personnel (a teacher from each grade level, the principal, guidance counselor and C&A therapists). In these CARE team meetings, students are often identified as kids to monitor for behavioral and emotional issues. If anyone on the CARE team feels consultation services are warranted, a phone call will be made home to the parent or legal guardian. If the family is open to consultation, and the parent gives consent and signs necessary paperwork, a student may be seen during the school day for up to 180 minutes during the school year.
School-based consultative services as well as treatment are a more feasible option for some families for multiple reasons. Those reasons include the child is getting help during the school day; a more convenient time for families versus an evening appointment; therapists are there in the moment of the crisis situation and can provide immediate help; and they provide a safety-net for students to speak with someone. Students receiving services are from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds.
Part of school-based therapy is being as discreet as possible and protecting the privacy of the student/family. A provider’s communication is important between the school, family and student in regards to how a student is discretely released for a school therapy session.
CRITERIA

C&A’s school-based consultation services include a behavioral health screening and referral, crisis intervention, student social/emotional skill development and behavioral health and wellness education, community linkage and referrals, parent/guardian engagement/education, CARE team meetings and collaboration with school staff. When indicated, with parental consent, students may receive formal diagnostic and treatment services, provided at the school, by a school-based therapist.
- Students are referred to counseling by school staff and CARE teams to screen for mental health or substance issues
- Parents are asked to be engaged in the process
- C&A will assist with linking families to community resources as needed.
- C&A’s therapists collaborate closely with school staff to enhance a supportive social/ emotional school environment.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SCREENING AND REFERRAL
CRISIS
INTERVENTION
PARENT/GUARDIAN ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION
Students and family members are referred by school staff and/or CARE team (with permission from the parent/guardian) to screen for possible mental health or substance abuse issues and provide information and connection to appropriate treatment options.
Therapists can assess for risk factors and then address imminent issues that necessitates behavioral health intervention and referrals such as recent exposure to a traumatic event, suicidal ideation, self-harm behaviors, and aggressive/violent behaviors.
Our therapists give parents strategies, support and education resources to strengthen family interactions. Our therapists help reduce stigma related to behavioral health services.
COORDINATION AND
EDUCATION
SKILL BUILDING
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WE SERVE
Therapists can provide school or community resources, including behavioral health resources to a student, parent/guardian, families or to school staff. Therapists can provide engagement strategies, support and education to parent/guardian or school staff regarding effective social/emotional interventions and strategies for a specific student.
Therapists can intervene briefly to assist an individual youth to identify how situations, thoughts and emotions influence behaviors.
- Alliance City Schools
- Canton City Schools
- Lake Local Schools
- Marlington Local Schools
- Massillon City Schools
- Plain Local Schools
- Sandy Valley Local Schools
- Tuslaw Local Schools
Meet our partner schools
ALLIANCE CITY SCHOOLS
CANTON CITY SCHOOLS
LAKE LOCAL
SCHOOLS
MARLINGTON LOCAL SCHOOLS




Nickname: Aviators
School Colors:
Red, blue, white
Website: alliancecityschools.org
Nickname: Bulldogs
School Colors:
Red, black
Website:
ccsdistrict.org
Nickname: Blue Streaks
School Colors:
Red, blue and white
Website:
lakelocal.org
Nickname: Dukes
School Colors:
Orange, black
Website:
marlingtonlocal.org
MASSILLON CITY SCHOOLS
PLAIN LOCAL SCHOOLS
SANDY VALLEY LOCAL SCHOOLS
TUSLAW LOCAL SCHOOLS




Nickname: Tigers
School Colors:
Orange, black
Website: massillonschools.org
Nickname: Golden Eagles
School Colors:
Green Vegas gold, white
Website:
plainlocal.org
Nickname: Cardinals
School Colors:
Red, white, gray
Website:
svlocal.org
Nickname: Mustangs
School Colors:
Red, white, blue
Website: tuslawlocalschools.org
MEET THE PROVIDERS






Courtney Buis
MA
Alliance H.S.
Jessica Kurz
MSW, LSW
Alliance Early Learning,
Alliance Elementary
Brooke Puharic
MA
Alliance Intermediate
Lindsay Wootten
MA, AT, LPC
Alliance M.S.
Rosina Muoio
MA, LPC
Gibbs Elementary







Sharon Nunn
MSW, LSW, CDCA
Clarendon Elementary
Aundrea Stedman
MA
Lake Primary and Elementary
Kim Cernansky
MSSA, LISW-S
Washington Elementary
Jodi Fellers
MA, LPC
Lexington and Malboro Elementary
Ashlen Mitchell
MA
Marlington M.S., H.S.






Katelyn Hampu
LPC, CDCA
Massillon M.S.
Chris Alpert
MA
Oakwood M.S.
Maggie Bockoven
MA, LPCC
Glenwood Intermediate
Cindy Ha
MA
Barr Elementary
Rochelle King
MA
GlenOak H.S.





Ashlie Lamp
MSSA, LSW
Avondale Elementary
Melissa Miranda
MA
GlenOak H.S.
Rosina Muoio
MA, LPC
Frazier Elementary
Dr. Karita Nussbaum
PhD., LISW-S, LICDC
GlenOak H.S.
Joshua Prince
MA, LPC
Oakwood M.S.




Tiffany Spaziani
MA, LPC, CDCA
Taft and Warstler Elementary
Erika Wood
MA, LPCC, CDCA
Sandy Valley Elementary
Tuslaw Middle and Elementary not listed