Phone: 256-233-6600 ext. 6685
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor of Social Work, Oakwood University Master of Social Work with a Concentration in Mental Health, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Michael Ross, Mental Health Services Coordinator
Hello! My name is Michael Ross. I hold a Masters Degree in Social Work with a Concentration in Mental Health from Alabama A&M University. I have worked in the mental health field since 2015. Most of my experience comes from working in an acute mental health setting with children and adolescents who suffer from mental illness. I enjoy working with children, teens, and families. I'm so excited to be here! I look forward to serving students and their families across the Athens City School district by coordinating available services and resources to support mental health.
Mental Health Connector Newsletter
Coping with COVID: Mental Wellness Resources
Food Services
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Local Food Banks
Limestone County Churches Involved (LCCI) 256-262-0671
Food Distribution: Monday-Friday, 9-11 AM
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P-EBT Cards
Additional funds from DHR for students who received free/reduced price meals https://www.wsfa.com/2020/04/24/food-benefits-some-ala-school-children-approved-by-federal-government/
Parenting Assistance
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Parenting Assistance Line
Rent, Utilities and Bill Pay Assistance
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Rental Assistance
Limestone County Churches Involved (LCCI) 256-262-0671
General Assistance: Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1-3 PM
Mission Athens 256-444-0254
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Utilities Assistance
Limestone County Churches Involved (LCCI) 256-262-0671
General Assistance: Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1-3 PM
Mission Athens 256-444-0254
Technology
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WiFi and Internet Access
Athens City Schools families/households may wish to take advantage of current free offers by internet providers or the districts WiFi on the Go program. Athens City Schools accepts no responsibility for any payment, lack of content filter or obligations of these services.
- Charter/Spectrum - Click Here for more information
- Emergency Broadband Benefit/Low-Cost W-Fi Program! Click Here for more information
- Personal Hotspots through your cellular provider can provide internet access at a minimal cost.
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Student Devices
Student devices are issued from the Athens City Schools Department of Technology. To submit a request for a school-issued device, contact your school principal. All principal email addresses are available online at https://www.acs-k12.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=2046
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Tech Support
For Tech support related to your school-issued devices, please visit the Athens City Schools Parent-Student Technology Portal or speak with your school Media Specialist.
Other Resources
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Camp Hope
Camp Hope is a free, one day camp for kids and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one.
The loss doesn’t have to be a recent loss (remember there is no time limit on grief) or a Hospice related loss (all losses are different and we are here to serve all kinds). Your child will be paired with a trained volunteer for the day, providing security to them and assisting them to each activity. The buddy volunteer’s sole goal for the day is the same as the Hospice staff: to equip these campers to have an understanding of their feelings and how to better deal with the waves of emotion that grief brings. We also love to have a good time and show these brave campers that having fun is okay!! Even if you are dealing with loss.
Who is invited? Any child aged 5 to 15 (there are separate activities for our teen campers)
When is Camp Hope? Tuesday, July 14, 2020. Camp is from 9 am til 2:30 Where is it? Camp Helen, located at 14477 Baptist Camp Road Harvest, Alabama
Events and activities include : making new friends, sharing feelings in a safe way, creating crafts to take home, crafting a memory book to help remember their loved one, swimming, fishing, having story time, face painting, playing on the water slide and so much more!!
Lunch and tee shirt are provided. Family members are all invited back at the close of camp to celebrate the day with us. Your camper will be ready to share all about their day and we hope that they leave camp with a new outlook. It is not our intent to dredge feelings of sadness with our campers, but rather show them that there are others dealing with similar feelings and that it is okay to move on with the changing world, even though they are dealing with grief and loss.
Completed Registration is necessary by the deadline: Monday, July 6, 2020. Due to food, space and volunteer limitations, we will not be able to accept any late registrations.
Email Emily Sandlin, Camp Coordinator (ekphsandlin@yahoo.com) for information on registration.
Volunteer information: Anyone wishing to volunteer at Camp Hope must attend a volunteer training and go through a background check for the safety of our campers. Your mission for the day of Camp will be to make it the best day ever for your camper. If you are interested, please contact Emily Sandlin at ekphsandlin@yahoo.com and you will receive all the information that you will need to become an official Camp Hope volunteer.
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Conscious Discipline
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Employment Resources
United Way Employment Assistance http://www.211connectsalabama.org/employment/
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Family Resources
Family Resource Center
406 South Jefferson St.
Athens, AL 35611
256-230-0880
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Substance Abuse Resources
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United Way
United Way offers several resourecs to serve the community. Dial 2-1-1 or visit their website at http://www.211connectsalabama.org/
Services include:
- Government Services
- Legal Services
- Food
- Housing
- Healthcare Services
- Education and Training
- Employment Services
- Clothing
- Family Services
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Attendance Resources for Parents
The Facts About Chronic Absence
- Nationwide an estimated 5 million to 7.5 million students are chronically absent each year, meaning they miss 10 percent or more of the school year in excused and unexecused absences. That's about 18-19 days in a typical year.
- High levels of chronic absence are found in urban, suburban and rural communities. In some school districts, as many as one in four students are chronically absence.
- This is not just a high school problem. One in 10 kindergarten and 1st grade students is chronically absence.
- Low-income students are four times more likely to be chronically absent than their middle class peers.
- Chronic absence occurs even when the absences occur sporadically throughout the year.
Video Link: https://vimeo.com/101425388
Health and Wellness
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Pixel Thoughts (Meditation App)
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101 Resources for Student Mental Health
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Teen Mental Health – A Guide for Parents
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Mental Health Counseling
Athens-Limestone Counseling Center1307 E. Elm StreetAthens, AL 35611256-232-3661 -
National Suicide Prevention Helpline
1-800-273-TALK -
Youth and Family Services
- Albany Clinic/355-5904 or 1-800-365-6008/Decatur, AL
- The Tie Foundation
- 2-1-1: Community Health & Social Service/United Way of Athens and Limestone County,Toll Free 1-866-869-4921
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Substance Abuse Info & Resources
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Child Abuse Prevention
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion
