Mason County Family Link is a collaborative initiative between Ludington Area Schools, Mason County Central, Mason County Eastern, United Way of Mason County, West Michigan Community Mental Health System, Department of Health and Human Services, Northwest Michigan Health Services, Staircase Youth Services and Pennies from Heaven Foundation.

This initiative supports student achievement by bringing together a range of agencies to provide needed services and support. It specifically includes staff that work on-site at all three school districts in Mason County:

Community Schools Coordinator– Provides coordinated access to health and human services within a school setting.

Site Team Clinician – Provides strength based, child-centered and family-focused counseling to students and/or their families who are not eligible to receive services through the local mental health agency.

Department of Health and Human Services Success Coach – Provides social services to students and works with families to help and identify a plan for self-sufficiency.

By bringing health and human services into the school building to serve children and families we can accomplish the following:

• Increase support for students, families, and schools;

• Increase access to needed health and human services and other community supports;

• Promote opportunities that support students’ educational, social and emotional development; and

• Redirect non-educational issues from the principals and teachers, so they can focus on educating children.