Wellness

Berkley Schools Emotional Support
& Wellness Resources

Hotlines

Call 911 if you or the person you are helping is in immediate danger

  • 24-hour Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (TALK) or text “TALK” to 741741
  • 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
  • 24-hour Michigan Mental Health Hotline: 1-888-535-6136
  • 24-hour New Oakland Family Centers Crisis Line: 877-800-1650
  • 24-hour Oakland Community Health Network & Common Ground Emergency Assessment & Eligibility Helpline 800-231-1127
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline, made up of a network of independently operated and funded local call centers (200+) across the country. Dial 988.

Community Resources

The following community resources are listed below.

Early On Oakland

External LinkCommunity Resource Guide - Early On Oakland

Oakland County COVID-19 Resources

Oakland County knows that we are in this together, and help is always available. Please visit their website for resources related to food assistance, senior services, health, mental health, LGBTQ resources, household & utilities, legal, safety, and worker & business.

211

211 is a free, confidential referral and information helpline and website that connects people of all ages and from all communities to the essential health and human services they need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A toll-free call to 211 connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve—and save—lives.

You’ll find information about:

  • supplemental food and nutrition programs
  • shelter and housing options and utilities assistance
  • emergency information and disaster relief
  • employment and education opportunities
  • services for veterans
  • health care, vaccination and health epidemic information
  • addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs
  • reentry help for ex-offenders
  • support groups for individuals with mental illnesses or special needs
  • a safe, confidential path out of physical and/or emotional domestic abuse

Call 211 and speak with a live, highly trained service professional in your area from any cell phone or landline. All calls are private and confidential.

MI Bridges

MI Bridges is a streamlined and dynamic application for multiple programs. It can help you access more than 30,000 state and local services across the state.

Watch the following video to learn more.

Food Assistance

Forgotten Harvest

If you're in need of food assistance, the Forgotten Harvest "Find Food" section of their website is a great resource. Visit their website, type in your zip code and find locations with food distribution near you.

Job Seekers, Unemployment & Legal Assistance

Job Seekers & Unemployment Assistance

Legal Assistance

  • External LinkLakeshore Legal Aid: Lakeshore Legal Aid is a not-for-profit law firm providing a range of free civil legal services to people who are low income, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities.
  • External LinkSelf Help Legal Assistance - Oakland County

Housing & Basic Needs

Oakland Community Health Network

Take me to the top of this section.

Comprehensive Supports

PDF DocumentFamily Resources, Supports, and Aid Available in Oakland County

Referrals for Outside Counseling/Support

Please understand this list is intended for you as a reference. It is not specifically recommending or endorsing any one particular person or agency.  

Counseling Services 

  • Perspectives of Troy (Child and adult services, individual and group therapy): 248-244-8644  
  • Oakland Family Services (Variety of services including child and adult services, chemical dependency  treatment) Works on a sliding fee scale. Berkley: 248-544-4004 
  • Michigan Family Institute (Focuses on child and family therapy. Has great resources for parents) Southfield: 248-593-4784  
  • Relationship Institute (Focuses on the relationships in our lives and how to make them better, works with parents/children) Royal Oak: 248-546-0407  
  • Maple Clinic (Wide variety of child, adolescent, and adult services. Has psychiatrist on staff)  2075 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan 48084: 248-646-6659  
  • Murray Center: 29500 Southfield Rd Ste 100, Southfield, MI 48076. 248-765-1795, email the Murray Center  
  • Easter Seals (Adult and child services, access to county supports), Southfield office, (248) 483-7804  
  • Judson Center (Mental Health and Autism Support). Royal Oak: (248) 549-4339
  • Wayne State School of Social Work Caregiver Helpline: counseling, resources and referrals to individuals caring for an older adult. This hotline service is free, completely confidential, and available 40 hours a week through December 30, 2020.

Pediatric Neurologist

  • Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND) Clinic, 28595 Orchard Lake Road Ste. 200, Farmington Hills, MI: 248-553-0010  
  • Children’s Hospital of MI Department of Neurology, 3901 Beaubien, Detroit, MI: 313-745-5785  
  • Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI: 800-436-7939  
  • Henry Ford West Bloomfield, 6777 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield, MI: 800-436-7939  
  • Beaumont Pediatric Neurology Center, 3533 W. 13 Mile Rd., Ste. N120, Royal Oak, MI: 248-551-7370  

Social Skills

  • Beaumont Center for Human Development, Southfield: 248-691-4744  
  • Kauffman Center, West Bloomfield: 248-737-3430 
  • Kids Empowered, Troy: 248-757-0912 or email Kids Empowered
  • Perspectives of Troy: 248-244-8644  

Emergency Mental Health/Suicide Evaluations for Children and Adults

  • Common Ground Sanctuary: Resource and Crisis Center 248-451-2600  
  • Oakland Family Services: Berkley, 248-858-7766  
  • New Oakland Crisis Team: 248-855-1540  

ADHD

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Birmingham, MI: 248-988-6716  

LGBTQ Support/Resources  

Affirmations, Ferndale: 248-398-7105  

Grief Counseling 

Things to consider when selecting a mental health provider 

  • Payment method. Do they accept your insurance? If not, call your insurance company. At  times, if your primary care doctor makes a referral in writing, insurance will often cover some if not all of the cost (minus the deductible). Also, many places are waiving deductibles for teletherapy for the remainder of 2020. Check with your insurance company.  
  • What is the wait time for an appointment?  
  • If your child is the client, what kind of input/communication will you as the parent have with the therapist? Will there be a joint session?  
  • Is there a psychiatrist on staff if medication is deemed necessary and agreed upon as the best course of treatment?  
  • Remember, it takes time to build a relationship and trust with someone. Therapists need to  ask tough questions.

Grief and Loss Books for Children

How to Talk to Children About Death

The following is an excerpt from a message Superintendent Dennis McDavid sent to the community on June 2, 2020.

Our ideal as a nation, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, is that everyone has a chance to succeed, that everyone is “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” When we fall short of that ideal for one citizen we fall short of it for all of us. As a District we will continue to strive toward that “more perfect union.”

We ask our community to join us in continuing to lift and support all of our students and denounce hate and hateful behavior. We will continue to learn, continue to model love for all our students and continue to focus on our implicit bias so we can be better for all our students every day. It is incumbent on all of us to continue to create the community we want for all of our children. 

Below are some resources for you to use in talking with your children and others about racism, diversity and inclusion.

Articles

Videos

Literature Resources

Resources & Toolkits

Organizations to Support LGBTQ Youth

  • CenterLink Founded with the mission to build sustainable LGBTQ community centers, this organization now has over 200 locations in 46 states and five countries. Aside from strengthening local LGBTQ communities, the organization also provides networking, technical assistance and training, and capacity building services.
  • GLAAD With a national focus on leading conversations about equality for the LGBTQ community and informing the media narrative, this organization works with news and entertainment media of all formats and communications and digital strategy outlets to ensure the public is provided with powerful stories about the LGBTQ community that advocates for greater equality.
  • Gay & Lesbian International Sport Association With an international reach, GLISA brings together international sports federations, human rights organizations, associations representing sport teams, clubs from major regions, and other stakeholders to facilitate partnerships for building bridges between sports and the LGBTQ community.
  • Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network GLSEN’s mission is simple: to ensure every member of school communities feel respected, regardless of their sexual orientation. This is accomplished through educating teachers, students and the public about the common pressures faced by LGBTQ students and working to remove barriers to success.
  • Get Equal GE focuses on equipping the LGBTQ community and their allies to fight against inequalities and to push for progressive change. Whether organizing direct action efforts, hosting local community meetings, training members in tactics of direct action or providing professional consulting, the organization is committed to continuously fighting for equality.
  • Human Rights Campaign HRC is the largest organization fighting for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. The organization currently has over 1.5 million members, all focused on making true equality for all possible. The organization has a number of research publications outlining equality indexes on areas such as healthcare, employers, states and corporations.
  • Matthew Shepard Foundation By erasing hate and building compassionate and accepting communities, the Matthew Shepard Foundation hopes to empower LGBTQ individuals to challenge and address discriminatory behavior in their schools, neighborhoods and homes.
  • National Center for Transgender Equality Identifying as America’s premier social justice advocacy organization for transgender individuals, NCTE works at the federal, state and local levels to leverage political capital and change laws encouraging discriminatory behavior. The organization has a particularly helpful “Know Your Rights” section of their website with information on housing, healthcare, employment, and more.
  • National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Since 1973, NGLTF has focused on building the political capital of the LGBTQ community through activist training, advancing pro-LGBT legislation and raising the profile of LGBTQ interests and causes. The organization is also an excellent resource for learning about the beliefs and platforms of those running for public office in regards to LGBTQ interests.
  • PFLAG Through support, education and advocacy efforts, PFLAG seeks to unite the LGBTQ community with friends, families and allies. By doing so, the organization hopes to further equality efforts and lessen discriminatory practices. Currently, there are more than 350 chapters and over 200,000 members.
  • TransYouth Family Allies TYFA is focused on supporting children and families to create support systems offering encouragement and acceptance regardless of sexual orientation. Main areas of work include educating the public about discrimination, working to eliminate oppression and violence, and forming alliances to ensure support services are in place for LGBTQ individuals. The organization has a number of outreach initiatives and resources to accomplish this mission.
  • The Attic Youth Center This Philadelphia-based organization is an excellent example of how LGBTQ youth centers can empower and inspire local teens that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. Some of the services offered include life skills, mental health counseling, supportive programs, community engagement, and social activities. AYC also provides a number of resources at both the local and national level.
  • Genders & Sexualities Alliance GSAs are student run clubs operating in both high school and middle schools that provide support, socialization, and activism activities for LGBTQ youth. The overarching goal is to fight against homophobia and transphobia; providing leadership and activist training for group members and encouraging them to advocate for nondiscriminatory policies and greater equality accomplishes this.
  • International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth and Student Organization IGLYO is an internationally focused advocacy and activism organization focused on representing the interests of LGBTQ youth. To accomplish this mission, the organization hosts conferences, provides educational materials, and offers the general public many opportunities to get involved.
  • It Gets Better Project The mission of the IGB Project is to give LGBT youth across the world hope that things do get better. In response to raised incidents of students committing suicide after being bullied in school, syndicated columnist Dan Savage created the organization to provide both inspiration and resources, including pledges and educational videos.
  • The Trevor Project With suicide rates noticeably higher among LGBTQ youth than their straight peers, the mission of The Trevor Project is incredibly important. By providing a 24/7-crisis intervention service, online community, and educational programs, the organization seeks to be both life saving and life-affirming.
  • YouthPride Since 2009, this organization has prevented 151 LGBTQ youth suicides through innovative programming and excellent resources. Whether offering daily after school activities or support and discussion groups, the Atlanta-based organization engages youth and empowers them to advocate for themselves. The organization also provides counseling and free HIV testing.
  • Affirmations in Ferndale, MI. Affirmations LGBTQ+ community center has been the hub for southeast Michigan LGBTQ+ communities and it’s allies for the last 30 years. It provides a welcoming space where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities & expressions, and cultures can learn, grow, socialize and access the vital support they need.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, especially children who have had their normal routines, stability and resources changed and/or reduced. The resources below are availble to help parents and guardians talk to their children about the global pandemic.

Below are some resources to keep your child safe online:

Below are three apps to monitor your child’s digital world:

  • T-Mobile Digits (Free) – Monitor your child’s text messages
  • Google Family Link (Free) – Set limits on your child’s digital world
  • Bark.us (Cost) – Professional dashboard to manage your child’s world digital world

District Social Workers

District Counselors

Name
Building
Position
Phone
Norup International School
Counselor
Norup International School
Counselor
Anderson Middle School
Counselor
Anderson Middle School
Counselor
Berkley High School
College & Career Counselor
Berkley High School
Counselor, Students L-R
Berkley High School
Counselor, Students A-D
Berkley High School
Counselor, Students S-Z
Berkley High School
Counselor, Students E-K