We Provide Much-Needed Support to West Sacramento Children and Families

My name is Janelle Dent and I’ve been working at Yolo Family Service Agency for a year as the Allied Services for Kids (ASK) Counselor. As the ASK Counselor, I provide parental support, individual, and/or crisis counseling to students in Yolo County’s school districts. This year, I have the pleasure of working in the Washington Unified School District at Westfield Village Elementary School.

It has been two months since I started working with students at Westfield and it has been great. I love the neighborhood school feeling where kids are being walked to school by their moms and younger siblings whom are not quite ready for school, but go along for the ride anyway. The noise of the school bus, chattering children and the school bell reminds me of when I was in elementary school.

I’m at Westfield Village two days a week providing to counseling to students. You might ask: “Do kids already have problems at that age?” It is sad to say, but children deal with the same issues that we adults face everyday. For a variety of children I work with they come to school with a huge amount of sadness, nervous energy, fears, worries, anger, and depression and they bottle it all up and are ready to show it whether adults want to see it or not. My job is to help children deal with their feelings and emotions so they don’t act out at school or home. I also provide support to parents in giving resources, a listening ear, or individual/family counseling to assist them in caring for their children.

Kids love to talk, especially about what is going on in their world. I have found if you listen, they will tell you their good and bad secrets. When children let you into their world it is a real privilege. As the school year progresses I will continue to enjoy working with the families of West Sacramento and look forward to helping the students of Westfield Village Elementary School.