February 27, 2023
To Our LFHS District 115 Parents and Guardians,
Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a national state of emergency in children’s mental health. Emerging from the pandemic, our country has seen a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of young people, and schools play a critical role in addressing these challenges. The CDC also recently released a report sounding the alarm that the state of mental health among our youth warrants our concern and direct action. We take these warnings very seriously and remain steadfastly committed to the health and safety of our students.
At LFHS, we are fortunate that our team of dynamic counselors, teachers, social workers, and psychologists work tirelessly with our students who need support. To ensure we continue to lead in the mental health services we offer our students, I have asked an independent expert to review our resources and identify areas of strength and future opportunity. We will partner with Dr. Daniel Cates to gather feedback from students, parents, guardians, and other community members. In addition to having served as a school psychologist, Dr. Cates is also a licensed clinical psychologist. His background includes years of experience as a director of special education and superintendent.
These interviews will begin the week of March 6 and continue through the end of the school year. At that time, Dr. Cates will provide his consolidated feedback and recommendations to me that I will review and share with the District 115 Board.
This information will help guide our plans for the future and ensure we are well-equipped to support the mental health and well-being of our Scouts in the context of the post-COVID world. As always, our goal is to continue to offer resources that serve the whole child, allowing every Lake Forest High School student to grow and thrive.
Sincerely,
