•  

    Support for Families and Students, Removing Barriers to Success

     


    Helping Students Overcome Obstacles to Academic Achievement

  • We understand that life circumstances and challenges can impact a student’s ability to learn and attend school. We aim to remove those barriers by offering a variety of student support services from within the district and through community partners.

    Whether it’s grief counseling, bullying prevention, substance recovery, or any issue that would impact your child's ability to succeed — we want to connect your child to the assistance they need to be successful. We invite you to browse the sections below to learn more about these services and how you can get connected.

      School Counseling

      • About: School Counseling is available to students in elementary, middle, and high school. Our counselors are trained to provide students with support and resources for various social and emotional needs. This includes non-clinical counseling services such as coping skills, grief support, anger management, and social skills.

        Counselors may additionally provide short-term individual or group counseling.

        Get Connected: Counseling services are school-based. Contact your child's school for more information or visit the school’s counseling website for more specific resources. 

      Mental Health Counseling

      • About: Students attending any Duval County Public School have access to free mental health counseling through Full Service Schools (FSS). FSS Mental Health Therapists provide clinical, intensive services such as evaluating, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders and illnesses in children and teenagers. Therapists work with students weekly, biweekly, or monthly and work with students in their school.

        Get Connected: If you are interested in your child receiving confidential behavioral health services, please visit our Full Service Schools page for additional information.

      Virtual Mental Health

      • About: Thanks to our partnership with , students have access to mental health therapy for coping with concerns such as anxiety, depression, and grief.

        Services are available at no cost, regardless of whether children have insurance.

        Get Connected: Virtual visits can take place at home and school, Monday – Friday from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Parents and guardians must first sign a Consent for Care form before accessing services. Learn more by visiting .

      Homeless Education Program

      • About: Our McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Program aims to eliminate academic barriers for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Our goals include enrolling children experiencing homelessness in school, providing resources for social service agencies, and provident intervention services.


        Get Connected: Students and families seeking assistance are asked to fill out a to determine eligibility. Contact the Duval McKinney-Vento Program (DMVP) office at 904-390-2222 for additional information.

      Mental Wellness Clubs

      • About: Many of our schools offer mental and emotional health resources, including GROW (Gain Resilience. Obtain Wellness.) Clubs. GROW Clubs are student-led organizations designed to help students promote emotional and mental wellness at their school.

        Get Connected: Visit the GROW website to see what resources are available at your child's school. 

      Substance Use Counseling

      • About: Duval County Public Schools has a nighttime intervention program for substance use called ZIP, or . This is the district’s program for students who have been charged with committing an alcohol, drug, possession of prohibited substance, or drug/alcohol paraphernalia infraction against the Code of Student Conduct. Through ZIP, students learn alongside parents in sessions and activities that educate them about substance use prevention. 

         

        Get Connected: Contact our Office of School Culture and Climate at 904-390-2443 to learn more.

      Teenage Parent Program

      • About: The Teen Parent Service Center (TPSC) provides services designed to help male and female teen parents remain in school and earn a high school diploma. 

        Services include regularly meeting with a case manager or truancy officer to assist with academic needs and attendance; working with an academic specialist to ensure students meet graduation requirements; facilitating re-enrollment for teen parents who aren’t attending school; providing referrals for social work, WIC, and other support services; and facilitating medical appointments.

        Parents in the program can enroll their children in the Possibilities and Success Childcare Center (PASCC) at A. Philip Randolph Career Academies. The PASCC is a designated 5-star childcare center by the Early Learning Coalition, and all caregivers are certified by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

        Get Connected: This program serves students attending Duval County Public Schools and certain charter and alternative education programs. Staff can be contacted by phone or by for more on eligibility.

        Teen Parent Service Center 

        Phone: 904-348-5199 Option 2

        Possibilities and Success Childcare Center 

        Phone: 904-348-5199 Option 1 

      Bullying Prevention

      • About: Duval County Public Schools takes all reported acts of bullying seriously and is dedicated to investigating alleged incidents. Our anti-bullying policy defines bullying, in part, as: “systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students.” More can be read in our school board policy as well as in .

        Get Connected: It is strongly recommended that all reports of bullying be reported directly to school administrators or deans of discipline, as they will be the ones doing the investigations. We also recommend putting reports of bullying or harassment in writing. 

        You can also report bullying through our anti-bullying hotline at 904-390-2255 or by emailing or texting 390Call@Duvalschools.org. 


        Once a report has been submitted, you will receive a written notification informing you that we are investigating. State law mandates that investigations be completed in 10 business days. You will also receive written notification with the outcome of the investigation.

      School Social Work

      • About: We have a team of School Social Workers (SSW) who assist students and families in fostering healthy “whole child” development.

        SSW duties can include providing attendance and truancy support, assessing students for appropriate educational placement, crisis intervention, connecting families with school and community resources, making agency referrals, short-term individual and group counseling, and making home visits. 

        Get connected: Our SSW team provides services throughout the district. Visit our School Social Workers page to learn more about their duties and assigned schools.  

      After-School Family Counseling

      • About: The , or SOS, Program provides counseling for students and parents experiencing discipline problems in a regular school setting. Instructors provide families with strategies to assist at school and home. Topics include communication, empathy, conflict resolution, peer pressure, decision-making, academic achievement, goal setting, and anger management.

         

        Get Connected: The SOS Program is available at Ed White, Englewood, Mandarin, William M. Raines, Sandalwood, and Andrew Jackson (Saturday only) high schools. Those who wish to attend the program voluntarily can contact school administration to sign up. You can also contact our Office of School Culture & Climate at 904-390-2443 for more information.

         

      Dropout Prevention Programs

      • About: Duval County Public Schools partners with several dropout prevention programs geared toward helping students complete their graduation requirements and earn a high school diploma or GED. 

        Dropout Prevention Programs

        • — A day treatment facility that serves boys and girls who have committed non-violent offenses and are involved with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. 
        • Bridge to Success Academy Middle School or High School — Bridge to Success provides an opportunity for students who are two or more years over-age to graduate on time. 
        • — A program for students in grades 6-12 who are academically at risk, including those who are two or more grade levels behind their age.
        • Marine Science Center — A vocational program where at-risk students can graduate with a state-recognized performance-based diploma. 
        • , LoneStar and Biscayne – students can earn a standard high school diploma with a flexible schedule
        • — An academic and counseling program that provides year-round high school academics, case management, counseling services, and life skill coaching in a gender-responsive environment. 

        Get Connected: Each dropout prevention program has specific entry requirements. Contact programs directly to learn more about whether your student qualifies.

      Students in Foster Care

      • About: The Foster Care program in Duval County Public Schools seeks to support students who are no longer in the care of their parents due to being at-risk, neglected, or abandoned while in their parents’ care.

        • Support services are provided through district social workers and external agencies.
        • Staff members work collaboratively to assist students with home placement, school enrollment, and transportation.
        • Social workers continue to monitor the attendance, discipline, and academic progress of children in care while enrolled in our district. 

        Get Connected: Contact us by calling 904-390-2222 or emailing fostercare@duvalschools.org

      Support Resources

      •

      Frequently Asked Questions

      • What counseling services are available to Duval County Public Schools students? 

        All Duval County Public Schools students have access to counselors at their schools. In addition to providing academic advice, our school counselors can provide non-clinical services to address a variety of emotional needs. This can include grief support, social skills, and more.

         

        Are mental health counseling services available in Duval County Public schools?

        Yes. Students attending any of our schools can access free and confidential mental health counseling through our Full Service Schools. They can provide clinical, intensive services such as evaluating, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders and illnesses in children and teenagers.

        If you're interested in your child receiving these services, you'll need to complete the  and email it to the Full Service School Social Worker assigned to your student’s school.

      Helpful Links