• Health and Wellness Supports for Students and Families

    In addition to the many services and supports that our schools offer with the help of school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other specialists, the resources below may provide additional help to students and families to improve their health and wellness. School staff are available to assist you with connecting with these and other programs and services.

    Online and Telephone Resources

    • Hope4NC - Free and confidential emotional support, counseling referrals, and community resources.
      Call or text “hope” to 1 (855) 587-3463.
    • Hope4Healers Helpline - A partnership with the North Carolina Psychological Foundation, providing mental health and resilience supports from a licensed mental health professional for health care professionals, emergency medical specialists, first responders, other staff who work in health care settings and their families who are experiencing stress from being on the front lines of the state’s COVID-19 response. Call (919) 226-2002.
    • NC Alcohol and Drug Council - Support for individuals and family members of individuals struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. Call 1 (800) 688-4232 or text 919-908-3196.
    • The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. 988 also has prevention and crisis resources, and best practices for professionals. Call 988.
    • Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs - A list of local sexual assault service providers. Call 1 (800) 799-7233 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

    Local Community Resources

    • Alliance Health - Alliance Health serves people who are insured by Medicaid or are uninsured. Providers offer treatment and support for mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual or developmental disabilities.  Call 877-223-4617.
    • NC 211 is an information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina. Families and individuals can call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 to receive free and confidential information on health and human services within their community.
    • NAMI Wake County -  provides support, education, and public awareness so that all individuals, families, and communities facing mental health challenges can live better lives.
    • Wake County Behavioral Health Urgent Care - Monarch’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) is a walk-in service for people ages 4 and older with mental health and substance use disorders who are experiencing a crisis. Call (919) 703-2845 or visit 319 Chapanoke Rd., Suite 120, Raleigh, NC.
    • WCPSS School Meals Information - Through June 30, 2021, all children age 18 and under may receive breakfast and lunch at no cost via curbside food distribution service or Big Bus Food Truck Pop-up sites. Meals are also free to all Wake County students when they are at school for in-person instruction. View wcpss.net/food for dates, times, and locations.
    • Wake County Food Resources - Meal sites for children are open across Wake County to serve meals to students daily. Other food resources such as mobile food markets, food pantries and emergency food boxes are available to serve families through curbside delivery. Food safety measures are being followed, and ID is not required to access any of these services.
    • Wake County Urban Ministries - Engages the community to serve and advocate on behalf of those affected by poverty by providing basic needs like food, medicine and shelter to  promote health and wellness. Call (919) 836-1642 or visit www.urbanmin.org.
    • YMCA Regional Family Food Distribution - YMCA facilities serve as regional food hubs for meal distribution for families in Wake County. Through a partnership with Wake County, the Y will provide one to two weeks' worth of shelf-stable and fresh food  throughout the rest of the year. Families can visit any of our locations and receive food at no cost.
    • CASA - CASA is a nonprofit organization that provides and manages affordable housing for people who are homeless or at risk, including veterans and people with disabilities. Call (919) 754-9960.


    The SCOOP on Managing Stress

    S - Stay connected to family and friends. Social connections build resiliency.
    C - Compassion for yourself and others. Self-compassion decreases trauma symptoms and stress.
    O - Observe your use of substances. Early intervention can prevent problems.
    O - Ok to ask for help. Struggling is normal. Asking for help is empowering.
    P - Physical activity to improve your mood. Exercise boosts mood and lowers anxiety.

    Tips and Information for Parents

    How to talk to children about difficult news - American Psychological Association provides information that helps adults learn how to guide conversations with children about difficult issues.