School Social Work Department
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Hello OWL Community:
We have two School Social Workers and one School Social Work Intern at Open World Learning (OWL) this year. Michelle is full-time, Paige is half-time and Urgi is our School Social Work intern. Michelle has her clinical license in Social Work (LICSW) and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. She began working for St. Paul Public Schools in 1998 - she worked at Highland Park Middle School for 18 years and OWL for the last 4 years.
Paige is a recent Masters in Social Work graduate from the University of St. Thomas/St. Catherine University and has her license in social work (LGSW). She's completed two School Social Work internships within Saint Paul Public Schools. Her foundation internship was at Johnson High School and her clinical internship was at OWL. She is delighted to continue her work at OWL and she will be splitting her time between OWL and Humboldt High School.
We are thrilled to have Urgi - our School Social Work Intern. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of St. Thomas. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Concordia University. After her Masters in Social Work, she hopes to get her PhD in Clinical Psychology.
We primarily work with students who receive special education services and students who may need additional emotional health and/or crisis support. We are experienced in working with students with a trauma background. We provide counseling to students individually or in groups. We are also available to consult with teachers and staff about students, and we regularly interact with parents. We love being School Social Workers because we are able to provide emotional support to students directly and indirectly through our interactions with staff/teachers and parents. Our goal is to help students feel academic, social and emotional success.
We are looking forward to working with students, staff and parents this year!
Resources are listed below. If you have any questions/concerns, please reach out to us!
Michelle Romano, MSW, LICSW & Paige Geck, MSW, LGSW
michelle.romano@spps.org and paige.geck@spps.org
School Social Workers - Open World Learning (OWL)
Phone: (651) 744-3398 and (651) 293-8670
Fax: (651) 293-5308
Community Resources
https://www.spps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=23128
Adult Mental Health:
The Mental Health Crisis Alliance
-Website: http://mentalhealthcrisisalliance.org/
-Phone: (651)-241-5959
-About: Provides crisis service system for adults in the eastern metropolitan area of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota.
-Minnesota Help Info:
-Website: https://www.minnesotahelp.info
-About: Locates services/providers near you
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Autism:
Fraser
Minnesota's largest provider of autism and childhood mental health services. Serves children and adults through healthcare, education, housing and employment. Services are individualized and have a family-centered approach. Fraser providers autism evaluations, including diagnosing and creating tailored treatment plans.
Contact: 612-767-7222
Website: https://www.fraser.org/evaluations
Minnesota Autism Center
Minnesota Autism Center offers a wide array of assessment services for diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Provide initial screening and diagnosis or offer on-going assessments and evaluations.
Contact: (952) 767-4200
Website: https://www.mnautism.org/our-services/evaluations/
Minnesota Mental Health Clinics
Minnesota Mental Health Clinics offers a Social Skills Connection Group called Groundbreakers for ages 8-17. The program is for children and adolescents who are struggle with social skills. The group meets one time per week.
Contact: (651) 454-0114
University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital
University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital provide services including diagnostic evaluations, medical consultation, social skills groups and parent consultation. The clinical team help to identify services to support your family and child's development. They tailor interventions specifically suited for your child's needs.
Contact: 612‑365‑8400
Website: https://www.mhealth.org/childrens/care/conditions/autism-pediatrics
Children’s Mental Health Services:
Ramsey County’s Children’s Mental Health Services
-Phone: (651)-293-5951
-Provide mental health counseling to children
Clothing Resources:
Hallie Q Brown Center
-Website: http://www.hallieqbrown.org/
-Phone: (651)-224-4606 or (651)-224-4601
- About: Provide free clothing - Monday and Friday 11am - 4pm - no appointment needed
Joseph's Coats
-Website: http://www.josephscoatmn.org/
-Phone: (651)-291-2472
-About: Provide free clothing. Bring a photo ID. You can go there once per week on Mondays or Wednesdays from 9am -12pm or from 1pm - 4:30pm
Counseling:
Allina Health Grief & Loss
-Phone: 651-628-1752
-About: Provide grief/loss Counseling
Clearwater Counseling MN
-Website: https://www.clearwatercounselingmn.com
-Phone: (651)-983-7192
-About: Provide counseling, consultation & mediation services for individuals, couples, and families.
CLUES,
-Website: www.clues.org
-Phone: (651) 379-4200
- About: Male/female therapists that speak Spanish.
---Intake - Thursdays/St Paul - 8:30am - 12pm (walk in)
---Mini wait list - 3-6 weeks out.
---Take Blue Cross/Blue Shield and take all major insurances - MA, Medica, Ucare, HP
Face 2 Face
-Website: https://www.face2face.org/get-help/counseling
-Phone: (651)-772-5555
-About: Provides individual, family and couples psychotherapy for ages 11-24 years old with or without insurance (sliding fee)
Family Innovations
-Website: https://familyinnovations.com/our-history
-Phone: (651)-748-5019
-About: Mental health, therapy and counseling services
Mental Health Practitioner United Family Medicine
-Website: https://unitedfamilymedicine.org/
-Phone: 651-241-1000.
-About: Provide mental health and counseling.
---There is a spanish speaking line when setting up appointments. Patients need to see a primary physician at the clinic and ask to be referred to Xoel Gonzalez. He's fluent in Spanish and English and he meets with 10/+ years old. He works with kids having trouble at school and at home, adults with relationship issues, trauma, and persistent mental illness. Feel free to call Xoel with more questions.
---There are sliding fees for those without insurance and they also take most insurances.
Progressive Individual Resources here on the West Side.
-Website: https://www.pirimn.org/contact-us/
-Phone: 651-222-6567.
-About: They have many Spanish speaking therapists with opening with no wait list.
---Takes various health insurances
Psych Recovery Inc
-Website: www.psychrecoveryinc.com
-Phone: (651)-645-3115.
-About: Outpatient mental health clinic
---Can conduct psychological evaluations
---Takes insurance
Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Crises Line:
-Phone: 651-266-7878
-About: Open 24 Hours/ Text:**274747
----Mental health crisis services are available 24/7 for all adults and children.
----Can also assist by meeting people in a variety of settings. Crisis teams can also provide connections to community resources.
Strength and Healing:
-Website: http://www.strengthandhealing.com
-Phone: (651)-925-6313
-About: Brant Thomsen, Licensed Therapist who offers counseling for children, teens, and adults.
----Specializes in play therapy, autism, and counseling for fathers.
-----Accepts medical assistance and medicaid, or sliding fee
Psychology Today:
-Website: https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/state/Minnesota.html
-About: Locates therapist near home
Free Walk In Counseling Center
-Website: https://walkin.org/faq/
-Phone: (612)-870-0565
-About: Provide individual counseling (any age), couples counseling, family therapy, and mediation
Cultural Programs:
Hmong American Partnership
-Website: http://hapcommunications.wix.com/hap-website-3
-Phone: (651)-495-1575
-About: Provides services for both individuals and families.
-----Parents can contact youth involvement program coordinator.
Financial:
Bank accounts. No over draft fees and no minimum balance.
For tax preparation help: Prepare and Prosper can help by offering free tax prep! https://prepareandprosper.org/free-tax-preparation/Food Resources:
Food Shelf
-Phone: (651)-756-7018
-About: Open: Mon - 9am - 6pm, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9am - 5pm, Friday 9am - 6pm. *Call for appointment*
---Those who have limited English skills can use children to call and go to appointment
Hallie Q Brown Center
-Website: http://www.hallieqbrown.org/
-Phone: (651)-224-4606 or (651)-224-4601
-About: Provides basic needs and clothing
MN Food Help Line:
-Phone: 1-888-711-1151
-About: Locates nearest food shelf and hot meals based on address. (Ask for "emergency" food shelf if already used regular food shelf for the month)
Neighborhood House Food Shelf,
-Website: http://neighb.org/program/foodsupportprogram/
-Phone: (651) 789-2500
-About: Neighborhood has two food markets: the Wellstone Food Market in the Paul & Sheila Wellstone Center on St. Paul’s West Side, and the second in Sibley Manor in Highland Park. Provide food and connections to resources.
Twin Cities Mobile Market
-Website: http://www.wilder.org/Programs-Services/tcmm/Pages/default.aspx
-Phone: 651-280-2434
-About: Grocery store on wheels; anyone can access
Free/Low Cost Housing Items:
Free Cycle
-Website: https://groups.freecycle.org/FreecycleStPaulMN/
-About: Provides resources
General Assistance for Families:
Minnesota Help Info:
-Website: https://www.minnesotahelp.info
-About: Locates services/providers near you
Health Insurance:
Portico
-Website: https://porticohealthnet.org/
-Phone: (651)-489-2273, 1600 University Ave W # 211 in St. Paul, MN
-About: Help families register for health insurance - free program (interpreters in Spanish, Hmong, Amharic, Somali, Vietnamese)
Housing:
Shelter Listings:
-Website: https://www.shelterlistings.org/
-About: Assists with finding shelter and assistance
Interventions for Kids:
Intervention Central
-Website: http://www.interventioncentral.org/
-About: Provides assistance with school work
Academic interventions
-Website: http://www.interventioncentral.org/response-to-intervention
-About: Offers academic interventions
PBIS World
-Website: http://www.pbisworld.com/
-About: A website containing links to hundreds of interventions, supports, resources, and data collection tools.
Mentoring:
New Lens Urban Mentoring
-Website: https://newlensurbanmentoring.org
-Phone: (651)-683-2968
-About: provides black males in the 8-12th grade with access to culturally congruent mentors
Mentor Minnesota612-800-5990-Find local mentorPrograms for Kids:
Community Education/Homework Help/Mentoring
-Website: http://commed.spps.org/
-About: Offers lifelong learning opportunities for all members of the community.
Homework Help
-Website: http://www.sppl.org/services/homework-help
-About: St. Paul Public Schools supports individual school programs and teachers in developing homework practices
Mentoring Program
-Website: http://www.mpmn.org/FindAProgram.aspx
-About: Mentors within the Twin Cities
One 2 One
-Website: http://www.one2onementor.org
-About: A mentoring program that works towards empowering youth and connecting communities
Sprockets
-Website: http://sprocketssaintpaul.org/program-finder
-Phone: (651)-744-7738
-About: A network of many different after-school and summer programs for youth in Saint Paul
180 Degrees
-Website: http://www.180degrees.org/introduction.php
-Phone: (651)-968-8908
-About: Supports individuals and families to overcome barriers
Resources for New Parents In Need:
Hallie Q Brown Center
-Website: http://www.hallieqbrown.org/
-Phone: (651)-224-4606 or (651)-224-4601
-About: Provides basic needs and clothing
Second Stork
-Website: http://secondstork.org
-Phone: (651)-272-0356
-About: Provide play yards, clothing, blankets, diapers, bottles and more to new parents in need.
---Services can be requested through the nurse or social worker at the hospital.
--- Located in many hospitals throughout the Twin Cities
