Family Support

Our school offers social workers and school psychologists work with our young learners to ensure they are ready to engage in learning.   Some mental health areas of expertise include:

• Bullying prevention
• Collaboration with community-based services
• Conflict resolution/mediation
• Crisis intervention and support
• Supporting student academic and social emotional needs
• Referrals for specialized services (Special Education Evaluations)
• Short-term individual and group support around student needs
• Support to homeless families
• Support to migrant families

Our school offers social workers and school psychologists work with our young learners to ensure they are ready to engage in learning.   Some mental health areas of expertise include:

• Bullying prevention
• Collaboration with community-based services
• Conflict resolution/mediation
• Crisis intervention and support
• Supporting student academic and social emotional needs
• Referrals for specialized services (Special Education Evaluations)
• Short-term individual and group support around student needs
• Support to homeless families
• Support to migrant families

OMS offers school counselors, psychologists, and social workers who work with our young learners to ensure they are ready to engage in learning. Some mental health areas of expertise include:

• Bullying prevention
• Collaboration with community-based services
• Conflict resolution/mediation
• Crisis intervention and support
• Supporting student academic and social emotional needs
• Transitioning to middle school 
• High school preparation
• Referrals for specialized services (Special Education Evaluations)
• Short-term individual and group support around student needs
• Support to homeless families
• Support to migrant families
• Suicide prevention
• Attendance/Truancy support as needed
• Staff/parent collaboration
• Staff training 

Starting from the first day students enter ninth grade, their OHS School Counselor is their designated personal adviser helping them navigate their high school journey and forge a path for their future.  Counselors are a student's first stop to help students with:

• College selection and admissions
• Career and post-secondary planning
• Personal and social concerns
• Transitioning to the High School
• Four year college readiness plan
• Academic progress
• Course scheduling and registration
• Getting involved at OHS

Family support and connection is an important part of student success. We are here to help families and students make connections in the community and help families navigate within the school systems.  Please reach out to coordinators with any needs related to food, scholarships for extra curriculars, or other assistance for your family.

Donna Ostvig
Integration & Engagement Coordinator
yo hablo español
952-449-8362
donna.ostvig@orono.k12.mn.us

Genna Torney
Youth Development Coordinator
952-449-8360
genna.torney@orono.k12.mn.us

• Relate is a non-profit community-based mental health center.   Relate has been a leading provider of outpatient assessments and counseling services to individuals of all ages, couples and families in the western suburbs.  
• Hennepin County Children's Mental Health Services provides assessment, treatment, and supportive services for children with mental health needs.  
• Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition offers several free services to the transgender and non-conforming community.
• myHealth for Teens and Young Adults helps teens and young adults through a variety of topics.  Both individual and family counseling is available. 
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. NAMI offers education, support and advocacy.

• Every Meal is a backpack program that provides free shelf stable meals to students for the weekend. Meals are delivered discreetly to students backpacks or are available in the Spartan closet for students to take home. Students do not need to be approved for free/reduced educational benefits in order to participate in this program. To register, please complete this form or contact Genna Torney genna.torney@orono.k12.mn.us.
• Interfaith Outreach Community Partners offers a food shelf to nearly 200 households per week. The food shelf is a safety net and supplemental resource for families on low and fixed incomes. Households must make an appointment to visit and can visit as often as every other week. 
• Westonka Food Shelf serves families to reduce hunger in our local community by providing nutritionally balanced food options to those in need.   Visits can be made weekly for fresh produce and perishables and monthly for shelf stable items. Call to schedule an appointment: 952-472-5599.  In addition the Westonka Food Shelf offers free farmers markets during the summer at a variety of locations throughout the Westonka community.
• WeCAN is a community non-profit that empowers and equips individuals and families to reach stability and self-sufficiency. Support includes emergency assistance, family programs, food support, and employment programs.

• Hazelden Center for Youth & Families offers comprehensive programming for youth through education, intervention, treatment, and after-care services for substance use and mental health.
• Hennepin County Human Services and Public Assistance
• Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge
• Minnesota Monitoring
• TreeHouse

National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota - Crisis Resources

Download the Minnesota Department of Revenue packet regarding Minnesota Tax Credits designed to help families reduce taxes.

Minnesota Tax Credits