Transition of School Intervention Program to NWESD

The Anacortes School District and Island Health are excited to welcome the Northwest Educational Service District (NWESD) into our partnership to provide high-quality mental health services for middle and high school students. For nearly 15 years, Island Health has partnered with the district to offer free, confidential mental health support to students at Anacortes and Cap Sante High School, and Anacortes Middle School. This award-winning program has helped remove barriers to mental health care by placing Island Health social workers directly in the schools.

The Mental Health School Intervention Program (SIP) has been vital in supporting students facing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and more. The Island Health Foundation (IHF) has funded the program since its inception, covering part of the cost of school-based social workers.

“It is exciting to see that after 15 years, the innovative SIP model is becoming mainstream and that there are now alternative funding sources for mental health in schools. We are thrilled to strengthen this partnership to support mental health both in our schools and in our clinics. The addition of NWESD enables more community resources to help address a critical need and investment in students’ lives,” said Island Health CEO Elise Cutter.

As more school-based mental health programs emerge and new funding sources become available, we are pleased to announce the transition of these services to NWESD. This shift reflects our continued commitment to student mental health.

"The Island Health Foundation remains committed to funding mental health initiatives in our schools, and we are excited that the innovative SIP model is becoming mainstream and expanding to include NWESD,” said Island Health Foundation Executive Director Marta McClintock.

Over the past three years, NWESD has successfully provided clinical school-based mental health services across the northwest region. During the 2023-24 school year, one of their clinicians served our elementary schools, with matching funds from the Anacortes School Foundation. As part of this transition, NWESD will now support a position for the secondary schools, while Island Health will continue to provide crisis management and zero-barrier services at their clinics.

Under the expanded partnership, NWESD will hire, train, and manage Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) through its licensed Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) to work in the Anacortes School District. This will be primarily funded by a federal grant from the Department of Education, with matching funds from the IHF providing $50,000 per year, per secondary-level social worker until designated funds are depleted.

“We are deeply grateful for our long-standing partnership with Island Health and the IHF, whose support has been invaluable. We are equally excited about expanding this collaboration with NWESD, confident that this transition we will continue to make a significant impact on our students’ lives and invest in their future,” said Dr. Rebecca Clifford, Assistant Superintendent.