COUSD Student Services
Division of Equity, Access, Outreach & Innovation
Welcome to the Division of Equity, Access, Outreach & Innovation, and Mental/Physical Health & Behavioral Intervention Support Services
Who is the Division of Equity, Access, Outreach & Innovation, and Mental/Physical Health & Behavioral Intervention Support Services?
Maria Thompson, M. Ed., Director of Student Services, Equity, Access, Outreach, and Innovation mthompson@cousd.net
Donna Maeda-Reyes, Student Services Technician, dmaedareyes@cousd.net
Christine Renouf, LCSW, Mental Health Program Specialist, crenouf@cousd.net
Masters in Social Work (MSW) and Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) Interns
Camille Virata, BSN, RN, District School Nurse, cvirata@cousd.net
Agnes Martinez, LVN, District LVN, eamartinez@cousd.net
Joanne Gonzalez, LVN, Contracted District LVN, jgonzalez1@cousd.net
Araceli Galvan, Health Services Assistant, agalvan@cousd.net
Sarah Mandel, M.A., BCBA, District Board Certified Behavior Analyst, smandel@cousd.net
Behavior Intervention Assistants (BIA)
Jennifer Helguera, COUSD Community Liasion, jhelguera@cousd.net
Greg Solis, PPS, Elementary Counselor, gsolis@cousd.net
Cedargrove ES & Washington ES
Counseling Interns (PPS)
Jennifer Kuramoto, PPS, Elementary Counselor, jkuramoto@cousd.net
Badillo ES, Glen Oak ES, Willow ES
Counseling Interns (PPS)
What is the Division of Equity, Access, Outreach & Innovation, and Mental/Physical Health & Behavioral Intervention Support Services?
Our division facilitates and provides school-based mental health and behavioral intervention support, wrap-around services, and case management for students needing support.
Examples of services are:
- Behavior intervention referrals
- Counseling referrals
- Student health and wellness
- Mental health/therapy referrals
- Community Resource Center
- Family outreach and workshops
- Coordinating services and resources with state, city, and county entities, and community groups
- Foster/Homeless Liaison
- Assisting families with questions and concerns
Please reach out to us if you come across a family needing assistance.
Free Online Tutoring Now Available to Californians
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that every Californian can now access free online tutoring available 24/7 through a new initiative offering homework help in every K-12 subject and skill-building resources for adult learners. Newsom also announced $254m in grants to public libraries in 172 cities across 34 counties to renovate and improve facilities across the state. This is the first round of the California State Library’s $439m Building Forward Library Improvement Grant Program – the largest investment in public library infrastructure in the state's history. Real-time homework assistance can now be accessed 24/7 here and on the websites of any of the 1,130 local public libraries around the state – click on the “HelpNow” link to reach a one-on-one tutor. The pilot program led by the State Library offers assistance in Math, Language Arts, and other core K-12 subjects in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. There’s no age limit to who can use the service. Adult learners can also access writing assistance, citizenship resources and other tools.
COUSD Student and Family Resource Center
Jennifer Helguera, Community Liaison
The COUSD Student and Family Resource Center is located on the Royal Oak Campus at
303 S. Glendora Ave. Covina, CA 91724
(626) 967-6354 x50232
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Closed 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
- The Center is open and available to assist students and families
- Please use the referral QR or link to refer students and families
- Center staff will reach out to referred students and families to assess their needs
Please send a referral and call ahead at 626-967-6354 ext. 50232 before sending students or families to ensure staff is available to assist them.
- Homelessness/housing insecurities
- Financial or transportation challenges
- Experiencing Foster placement
- Financial & transportation challenges
- Emergency food, clothing & school supplies, and referrals to charities or agencies
Link for the COUSD Student and Family Resource Center referral:
Elementary Counselors and Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Counseling Intern Program
Greg Solis, PPS gsolis@cousd.net
- Cedargrove Elementary School and Washington Elementary School
Jennifer Kuramoto, PPS jkuramoto@cousd.net
- Badillo Elementary School, Glen Oak Elementary School, Willow Elementary School
Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Interns
Preventative (Tier 1)
Sadness, grief, loneliness
Trouble making friends, bullying issues, inappropriate social interactions
Short-term check-ins or academic guidance
We ask that School-Based Counseling referrals are submitted only by school site personnel to ensure proper vetting at the school site.
Referral Link
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Behavior Intervention Assistants (BIA)
Sarah Mandel, M.A., BCBA smandel@cousd.net
Sarah Mandel, M.A., BCBA, COUSD Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), onboards and trains Behavior Intervention Assistants (BIA) who provide students with behavioral support and interventions. Referrals are generated by school site personnel. The Board Certified Behavior Analyst vets the referrals for school-based intervention appropriateness or refers to outside professionals.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Behavior Intervention Assistants (BIA)
Referrals for:
- Disruptive Vocal Behaviors (shouting, crying, cursing, etc.)
- Disruptive Physical Behaviors (throwing, hitting, eloping, biting, etc.)
- Classroom Management Accommodations
We ask that BCBA referrals are submitted only by school site personnel to ensure proper vetting at the school site: https://bit.ly/3zV8Qao
Masters in Social Work (MSW) and Bachelors in Social Work (BSW) Intern Program
What is the difference between Masters in Social Worker (MSW) and School Counseling/PPS interns?
The MSW/BSW intern program differs from the School Counseling (PPS) intern program. PPS/Counseling interns provide Tier I short-term academic and counseling services and check-ins.
MSW/BSW interns provide Tier I and Tier II long-term (6-8 week) mental health therapy, wrap-around service referrals, and case management.
How to make a therapy referral:
- Ensure the school site administrator, counselor, and school psychologist have been informed of the student's needs.
- An SST is recommended before referral to give a holistic picture of the student and his/her needs.
- Check if an IEP already addresses mental health needs or if an IEP needs to be held to add mental health support. The MSW program focuses on general education students who need school-based mental health support.
- Only site administrators, counselors, and school psychologists can access the therapy referral form. Please download the form to complete it. It is a PDF fillable: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yYMxmOjpE95hNFHakJ-6CwW7ZdRnhPmh/view?usp=sharing
- Complete the form as thoroughly as possible.
- Email the form to mentalhealthreferrals@cousd.net.
- The COUSD Mental Health Program Specialist will review the referrals and contact parents for information and consent.
- An intern will be assigned to the case.
- The COUSD Mental Health Program Specialist will communicate the status of the case with the administration, counselors, and/or psychologists
Some important notes:
- All referrals and requests for assistance must go through the COUSD Mental Health Program Specialist. Please do not refer students directly to the MSW/BSW interns.
- We ask that School-Based Mental Health Therapy referrals are submitted only by school psychologists, counselors, or administrators to ensure proper vetting at the school site.
- We are located on the Adult Education campus in Room C4.
- Please email Christine Renouf at crenouf@cousd.net or call at 626-938-0280 x98226
Care Solace
Charter Oak Unified School District is partnering with Care Solace, an online research tool that assists individuals in finding local counseling-related services to promote mental health and ensure the well-being of the District community. Care Solace services are available at no cost to COUSD students, families, and staff.
To use the program, individuals answer 10 questions and are directed to an extensive list of referrals for care providers. A search algorithm matches individuals with mental health care resources within seconds.
Mental Health Supports
If there is an immediate crisis, call 911. If your child needs an emergency mental health evaluation, you can call the LAC DMH Psychiatric Mobile Response Team 1-800-854-7771 or take your child to the local emergency room. Covina Police Dispatch is 626-384-5808. Glendora Police Dispatch is (626) 914-8250. San Dimas Sheriff Dispatch is (909) 450-2700.
If you are feeling very anxious or are struggling emotionally, contact a mental health professional, maybe via telehealth. You can dial 988 to connect with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the complete number is: 1-800-273-TALK) or one of our local mental health agencies listed on this page. All these hotlines and referral agencies are open to take your call.
CA Peer-Run Warm Line (1-855-845-7415)Non-Judgmental Emotional Peer Support
As the CA Peer Run Warm Line is staffed 24/7 by trained Peers with specialized training in supporting mental health challenges, we are already seeing a number of callers with concerns surrounding the virus and associated news reports.
The California Peer-Run Warm Line expanded its services state-wide in October of 2019. We are a toll-free service and operate 24/7 and can be reached at:
Toll-Free Number: 1-855-845-7415Web Chat: https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/peer-run-warmline/
Please remember physical distancing doesn’t mean social isolation. It’s more important than ever, right now, to stay connected to family, friends, co-workers, classmates and others through phone calls and online. We can be there for each other and provide mutual support without coming into physical contact. Engaging in activities that are meaningful to you, personally, can also help.
Please contact 211 for assistance with basic needs and other resources at https://211la.org/search-resources
Community Partnerships
McKinney-Vento Students Best Practices
- Reach out to your McKinney-Vento students and families to ensure they know who you are, your contact information, and how you can assist them.
- Helpful suggestions:
- Use the personal touch:
- Home visits
- A phone call or text
- Zoom
- Snail mail
- Check on their education status:
- Do they know when the school year starts? Have they registered?
- Are there any issues around the School of Origin (SOO)? Do they want to return to a prior school?
- How will they be attending in the fall? In-person or virtually?
- If virtual, do you know what their connectivity status? Do they have working devices?
- Are they fully enrolled in classes and all eligible meal programs
- On track for graduation?
- IEP support needed?
- 504 updated?
- Transportation Plan?
- Know when their birthday is and acknowledge it in a small way!
- Are they connected with local resources in your area?
Contact us!
626-938-0280
Maria Thompson, M. Ed. - Director, Student Services, Equity, Access, and Innovation x98224
Christine Renouf, LCSW - Mental Health Program Specialist/MSW/BSW Intern Supervisor x98226
Donna Maeda-Reyes, Student Services Technician, dmaedareyes@cousd.net
Email: mthompson@cousd.net
Website: www.cousd.net
Location: 1115 East Puente Street, Covina, CA 91724, USA
Phone: 626-938-0280
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/COUSDStudentServices
Twitter: @COUSDServices