In today’s interconnected world, the challenges students face—whether mental health needs, social-emotional growth, or navigating cultural transitions—are not bound by borders. Real-world exchanges of ideas between nations strengthen the ability to innovate, adapt, and respond with compassion. By learning from one another, stronger, more inclusive systems can be built that benefit all students, no matter where they call home.
This summer, the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) School-Based Mental Health and Wellness program welcomed a distinguished delegation of 15 mental health practitioners and leaders from Poland as part of the U.S. State Department’s prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program.
The visitors included Chief Specialists, a Women’s Health and Protection Coordinator, a Foundation President, Child Protection and Ministry of Health leaders, national education leaders, and psychotherapists. They were joined by three interpreters and Global Ties Sacramento interns. The mission was to learn how school-based mental health services are delivered in the U.S., with a focus on SCOE’s partnerships with the Department of Health Care Services, Sacramento County Health Center, and other agencies.
Discussions centered on integrated supports that serve the whole student, with particular interest in how SCOE supports immigrant and refugee youth. The timing was perfect because a SCOE clinician and one of the coordinators who attended both serve the district with the county’s highest refugee population, which led to rich, real-world exchanges of ideas.
SCOE shared program roadmaps, key implementation steps, and insights from the “Schools as Centers of Wellness” model. The meeting closed on a sweet note—literally—when guests treated SCOE to traditional Polish confections. Heading into the new school year, this exchange reaffirmed a universal truth: no matter the country or language, caring adults and strong partnerships are the foundation for student wellness and success.