School Social Workers Make the Difference at Wasco High

The West Kern Consortium’s School Social Work Program made a significant impact during the 2024–2025 school year, supporting over 365 students at Wasco High School and Independence High School through mental health counseling, crisis intervention, and family support.

At Wasco High alone, 284 students were referred for services. The top concerns included anxiety, sadness, grief, stress, and chronic absenteeism. Social workers provided therapeutic services to 16 students, with 11 successfully completing services. Brief interventions and one-time crisis check-ins reached hundreds more.

“Students are facing increasingly complex challenges—our job is to meet them where they are and provide the tools they need to succeed,” said one school social worker.

Highlights of the year included the first-ever Mental Health Awareness Week at Wasco High, featuring yoga, sound baths, and a student-accessible wellness room. Staff also launched a suicide prevention initiative, training teachers and hosting an awareness booth with community partners.

Success stories include “Lily,” a freshman who overcame drug use and defiance through counseling, and “Bud,” a WIHS student who, after losing his father and experiencing homelessness, raised his GPA and earned an MVP award. (Real student names have been changed to protect privacy.)

At WIHS, 81 referrals were made, with strong outcomes: 11 students completed counseling, and family housing support helped stabilize at-risk students. Staff also made over 160 referrals to community resources, connecting families with mental health, housing, and legal services.

“Every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe,” said one district leader. “This team is making that a reality, one conversation at a time.”