Since its inception last spring, the partnership between the Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) Outreach team and Saddle Hills County has made a positive impact on mental health in the most northern region of the division.
PWPSD’s Outreach team and the Saddle Hills County Mental Health Professional assist residents with resources, support services, and advocacy. PWPSD Mental Health Therapist Ms. Kristy Jackson says the partnership has been an incredible opportunity and she is proud to be a part of it. “I have been able to support families and students through quite a few things this year, as this has been an unprecedented school year. Between the strike, crisis responses, changes within schools and government shifts, we have worked hard to keep things relatively consistent for the families we work with, and the students we support.” She says the team has provided Outreach services to families in every school she has worked with this year, including short- and long-term supports.
The Outreach team goes beyond the classroom, helping families with applications for benefits and resources, providing much needed financial support, and responding to various crises. “Walking alongside families and navigating systems has been a large part of what we do,” says Ms. Jackson. The team has worked in many areas within different government, medical, and educational systems, advocating for families and effectively supporting them where they need it most.
Ms. Jackson has collaborated with different agencies and organizations to create easy pathways to supportive resources in the area. Connecting with South Peace Community Resources Society has helped ensure the information being provided to families is current and appropriate. “I was able to partner with local organizations to find funding for some families who are needing supports that regular medical funding does not generally provide, especially with support and resources being scarce in our rural communities.” Ms. Jackson is proud of what the partnership between PWPSD and Saddle Hills County has brought to the community and is excited to continue supporting rural students and families.
Saddle Hills County has been extremely supportive of the collaborative work between the Nurse Practitioner at the Saddle Hills County Medical Clinic and the PWPSD Outreach team, and PWPSD is incredibly grateful for the continued support.
You can read the original partnership announcement, published in May 2025, on the PWPSD website.