CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Horry County School Board will consider a request for more Rehabilitative Behavioral Health Services (RBHS) lead counselors as it prepares for next year’s budget.
The request, made by Chief Officer of Student Services Velna Allen, is for eight RBHS lead counselors which will cost an estimated $576,000.
“We’re seeing a growing need in our students and many more mental health issues also pushed down to a lower grade,” Allen told the school board. “So we would like to provide more services to those students in need.”
News13 reached out to the Co-Coordinator of RHBS, Gretchen Smith, to talk about what kind of services the counselors provide and why there is a need for more in the district.
“The kids that we work with have a lot on their little shoulders,” said Smith. “We work with kids ages 4-18. Some have emotional difficulties, some have mental health issues, some have issues with abuse, all different kinds of abuse. Depression, suicidal ideation, at risk kind of behaviors. There’s just a myriad of issues these kids come to school with.”
Her counselors, along with counselors from Waccamaw Mental Health, are in Horry County schools every day. However, they don’t have enough lead counselors and many serve students in multiple schools.
“So we’re really excited about possibly getting more staff to be able to serve these kids,” said Smith. She attributes the growth to an overall growing county and growing awareness of mental health issues.
“Our society is just different,” said Smith. “There are a lot of pressures, there are a lot of influences out there for kids that weren’t there 10 years ago.”
The school board is entering into its budgeting process and will decide by June 30 whether to fully fund, partially fund or deny the request.
You can read more about the RBHS program by clicking: here.
