Position: Bilingual Outpatient Clinician for Pathways and Rooted to Rise 

What led you to your current position? After graduating from University of San Francisco’s Marriage and Family Therapy program I learned about Seneca through word of mouth due to their social justice reputation. This position felt aligned with my values and allowed me to work with youth and like-minded professionals.

What inspires you to do this work? I think my inner child feels alive through this work, which is a beautiful thing. I strongly value equitable care for all and getting to work with an agency that supports that, inspires me.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? I feel like I am constantly learning so much from the young people I work with. Recently, a client of mine came into session glowing and saying she was “finally feeling herself,” and it was such a magical thing to see her confidence and spark come back. It was truly palpable.

Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. My life motto is based in a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald that reads, “I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” 

Our Unconditional Education team is committed to continuously learning and exploring new ways to enhance the services we provide to all our clients. During Spring Break, we conducted our annual Parent and Caregiver Feedback Survey to capture the diverse perspectives of caregivers involved in all our school-based programs. It’s important for us to get feedback from parents and caregivers so that we can better understand what we are doing well and how we can improve. This year, we contacted 430 families - our highest response rate ever! Here are some highlights from the responses we captured:

• 98% said that Seneca staff are skillful and knowledgeable in their work with their child. 
• 93% said they feel well informed about what their child is working on and how they are progressing.
• 97% said that they feel supported in meeting the needs of their child.
• 95% said their child made progress as a result of their work with Seneca.
• 99% said that Seneca staff care about and respect their child’s racial identity, culture, values and beliefs.

 
We also asked parents and caregivers for their thoughts on how they feel supported with Seneca, which strategies they found helpful, and how we can improve our services and support: Here are a few direct positive quotes that embodies those themes:

“I am happy that you all are serving people from my community and helping kids that really do need it.”

“My child has changed so much since working with Seneca. The proactive communication is the best part. I feel like my child is more a part of school now because of them.”

“The therapist makes herself accessible and easy to talk to. Her being approachable makes everything better.”

“The person working with my child is excellent and her care for the students shows in how she comes to school. They have been a big help to me. There are things she's done that have helped my child become accountable in a very significant way.”

“The counselor that is helping my daughter actually opened her up … [and she] expressed herself. She was able to give her confidence and get her to be herself.”

“I am able to easily communicate with the therapist. She helps me figure things at home and advice that I would have never even thought of.”

“I've noticed behavioral management grow in my child. He is able to verbalize his feelings which he has never been able to do and Seneca has helped with that.”

“Everything that the therapist is doing is very useful … they communicate well with me. She is very good at telling me anything and everything that she teaches my child.”
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“Sometimes, as parents, we are not informed well enough on how to handle certain situations but, with you all, we have learned a lot.”
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We truly appreciate the positive affirmations about our services and are equally committed to identifying areas for growth so we can continue to refine and strengthen our support for everyone involved. We are eager to utilize caregiver feedback suggestions in conjunction with additional stakeholder datapoints from our student and partner surveys that are being conducted to drive program improvement decisions and goals for the upcoming school year.

Blog By: William Chiang, Strategic Initiatives Senior Project Manager

Olympus High School located in downtown Tacoma, WA is one of Seneca Washington’s longest partnerships. Starting in 2015, Seneca began providing mental health and special education services to the Olympus community, who is part of the Summit Public School network. This year, we had a unique opportunity to pilot a traditional ‘community-based’ program into our school-based work with Olympus proving that integrated care of youth increases accessibility of care.  Therapeutic Case Management (TCM) began in Washington as a behavioral program based off of similar principles as TBS. The program serves youth up to 18 with intensive case management and behavioral support. Counselor staff provide both individual and family services to their clients in home, at school or within the community. Typically, referrals to TCM are made by our region’s WISe team, Outpatient team or school-based teams. 
 
This school year, we were able to embed a TCM Counselor, Bri Rumph, into Olympus High School. Bri integrated into the school and quickly became a safe person for students to visit for a quick check-in, support with resource finding or helping advocate for themselves in the classroom. Beyond Bri’s Tier 1 and 2 support, Bri also holds a small caseload of youth for more individualized TCM services.  
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Each youth enrolled in TCM completes a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and creates a treatment plan based on the identified needs. Bri can work individually with the students on her caseload while they are at school, while also scheduling family support sessions in the home or community. Students may also seek Bri’s support in attending appointments with other treatment providers or community support. This integrated model seeks to bridge the gap of community-based providers not always being able to access youth when they are at school. And as providers we know that school is one place many youth spend much of their time.  ​

Blog by: Alex Mehling, Regional Executive Director

 ​Position: I am currently working as a  Therapeutic Case Management (TCM) counselor in Summit Olympus High School.  

What led you to your current position? : I started as a social worker in 2019 in Tacoma, Washington during the pandemic supporting local unhoused folks and working to build networks of professionals to meet clients where they were at in the community. I enjoyed this work not only because I was able to advocate and elevate necessities for my clients but also because it gave me a sense of what being truly client centered was. This became key in all the work I did moving forward. After this opportunity I transitioned to working within a supportive housing complex as a case manager. I supported my clients and families in a variety of aspects including finding legal supports, filing paperwork, as well as supporting with day-to-day behavioral health needs. This eventually brought me to Seneca which was both a welcomed and sudden change of pace. Working at Seneca within TCM has allowed me opportunities to connect with my clients and families more consistently and with greater emotional depth. I also have learned to combine being client centered, with being strength based which has elevated the level of care I’m able to provide to my clients and families.  

What inspires you to do this work? I am inspired to do this work by the opportunity to be a part of my families’ and clients’ journeys towards the goals that they want to achieve. I also greatly enjoy empowering and advocating for those around me who do this work and the joy and empowerment I receive from being a part of Seneca.
 
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? A recent highlight from my work with TCM at Summit Olympus is the therapeutic connections I have experienced throughout this year. Specifically, through working with one of my kiddos on my caseload and seeing how hard they have worked to commit to their goals that they have co-created with me within TCM. This young person and their family have had a difficult time connecting with other providers and have frequently shared their difficult experiences within receiving mental health support. I have been truly honored and grateful for their trust and our ongoing therapeutic partnership. Through being connected to TCM, community resources, and working with school administration this student has been able to better their mental health and will be graduating with their diploma at the end of the year. I am extremely proud of their hard work and look forward to seeing them become the independent young adult they are striving to be.

​Share your life motto or something unique about yourself.: “Love is a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust” & “love is an action never simply a feeling” – Belle Hooks 

In today’s rapidly changing world, education and mental health support are inseparable pillars that support young people’s growth and well-being. As we become more aware of the complex challenges facing students—especially those attending alternative high schools—collaborative efforts to address both academic and emotional needs are essential. One such partnership that is paving the way for positive change is Seneca’s longstanding partnership with OUSD’s Emiliano Zapata Street Academy. Together, we are not just working to improve academic outcomes but are also addressing the deep, often hidden, emotional and social struggles that students face. By fostering collaboration, social justice, and professional development, this partnership is making a lasting impact on the lives of students.​

Street Academy serves students who face unique challenges, such as trauma, mental health issues, socio-economic hardship, and a variety of other barriers that make traditional education a struggle. For these students, having access to mental health support isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential for their personal and academic growth. This is where Seneca comes into play. By partnering with Street Academy, the agency brings in specialized knowledge, resources, and services that complement the educational curriculum. Together, we create an environment that recognizes the importance of emotional well-being alongside academic achievement.

In practical terms, this collaboration looks like Seneca’s therapist working directly with students on an individual basis, offering counseling, therapy, and crisis management. She also participates on the CARE team, which triages students’ needs and helps them access supports at school and in the community. It has also involved group sessions that focus on social-emotional learning, coping mechanisms, and mindfulness techniques. In years past, therapists have facilitated groups for graduating seniors to help them navigate life after high school. These services, deeply integrated into the school environment, help students navigate their personal challenges while remaining focused on their education.

This year, a critical aspect of our partnership is its focus on professional development. We recognize that to create lasting change, educators and mental health professionals must continuously evolve in their practices. Our program offers a menu of social/emotional and mental health trainings geared towards school professionals, including TIE (Trauma Informed Education). The initial TIE training was a resounding success, and the school has asked for additional trainings in the upcoming school year!

The longstanding partnership and deep collaboration between Street Academy and Seneca has a ripple effect that extends beyond the walls of the school. Students who receive the academic and mental health support they need are more likely to graduate, pursue higher education, or enter the workforce with a greater sense of confidence and well-being. By demonstrating the power of collaboration between schools and mental health agencies, this partnership provides a blueprint for how to approach the complex, interconnected issues of education and mental health. It serves as a reminder that true support for students goes beyond just academics—it’s about nurturing their emotional, social, and mental well-being so they can reach their full potential.

Blog By: Amy Blair, Clinical Supervisor