Bridge Team

Washtenaw ISD Bridge Team

Our mission is to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of K-12 students throughout our community.

Our vision is to empower students, families, and educators by expanding intervention strategies to increase mental well-being for academic success.

The Need

Statistics show that more Michigan children and adolescents are increasingly dealing with mental health issues and experiencing traumatic events.

The Impact

Mental health has an enormous impact on our students’ success in school. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions have been linked to lower grades and an increase in alarming dropout rates.

Why Schools? 

Why are our schools uniquely suited to assist our students with their mental health concerns? With the large amount of time most youth spend attending school (and other school-based extracurricular activities), there is a greater chance for identifying a mental health concern and an opportunity to make appropriate referrals to treatment within the education milieu than in other settings. As places centered around learning, schools are also an ideal setting to deliver information about mental health and provide teaching about emotions, behavioral health, and mental health care. Schools create safe spaces for youth to engage with programs that teach personal resilience and help develop buffers.

How we can help

Clinical Services Support: Our Bridge Clinical Team may provide individual or group counseling to students, and provide liaison support, care coordination, and case management services with schools, families, community agencies, and other local partners. The Bridge Clinical Team supports the development of multi-tiered behavioral intervention strategies and encourages school comprehensive positive behavior support systems.

Crisis Mental Health Coordinators may assist with crisis transitions while utilizing evidence-based wraparound techniques to coordinate with family, school contact, and community providers. Crisis Metal Health Coordinators may assist with the process of students who may have to make transitions to and from inpatient/partial hospitalization stays, residential treatment, or juvenile justice programs.

Mental Health Resource List

Need Help Now?

Call or Text 988 from any phone to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (link is external)

Text HOME to 741741 -- Crisis Text Line (link is external)

Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) (link is external)

Emergency Services & Crisis Lines

Washtenaw County:

Community Mental Health Crisis Services (link is external)

U-M Psychiatric Emergency Services 

Outside Washtenaw County:

Common Ground Crisis Line (link is external)

Local Crisis Lines (link is external)

MDHHS Community Mental Health Services (link is external)

National Organizations:

The Trevor Project (link is external): suicide prevention & crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. Trevor Project Lifeline is staffed by trained volunteers, day and night, for online chat, or call (866) 488-7386

Non-Emergency Services

Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator (link is external) - mental health problems and/or addiction

Washtenaw County:

Outpatient Care at U-M

Community Mental Health (link is external) - Provides an array of services for clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. Entry point for Medicaid-eligible and uninsured for mental health, public health and or substance abuse information and services in Washtenaw County. Callers receive health information and/or referrals to community services.

Outside Washtenaw County:

MDHHS Community Mental Health Services (link is external)

Common Ground (link is external)

State of Michigan:

Michigan community mental health services programs directory (link is external)

Mental Health & Substance Use Resources

Mental Health:

Depression Center Toolkit (link is external)

Addiction:

Addiction Center Resource Guide

Suicide:

Make Your Home Suicide-Safer (link is external)

Local resources:

S.O.S. Community Services
(734) 484-4300
Helps individuals and families in need to achieve economic, family and residential stability.

Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
Provides an array of services for clients diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. Entry point for Medicaid-eligible and uninsured for mental health, public health and or substance abuse information and services in Washtenaw County. Callers receive health information and/or referrals to community services.

National Alliance on Mental Illness - Washtenaw County
(734) 994-6611
Offers support (including support groups), education and advocacy for people with mental illness and their family members in Washtenaw County.

Women's Center of Southeast Michigan
(734) 973-6779
Email
Provides personal counseling, divorce education and support, job coaching and tax assistance. "We are committed to providing high-quality supportive services at affordable fees. Our staff and volunteers make our environment safe, encouraging and beautiful."

National resources:

National Crisis Text Line offers free 24/7 support at your fingertips. Text HOME to 741741 and "a live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment."

Anxiety and Depression Association of America
(240) 485-1001
Committed to improving the lives of the people who suffer from anxiety disorders through promotion of early diagnosis, treatment and cure.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
(800) 950-NAMI (6264)
Dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these diseases.

National Mental Health Consumer's Self-Help Clearinghouse
(800) 553-4539 or (215) 751-1810
Helps connect individuals to self-help and advocacy resources, and offers expertise to self-help groups and other peer-run services for mental health consumers.

National Institute of Mental Health
(301) 443-4513 or (866) 615-6464 (toll-free)

Suicide prevention hotlines:

Half of Us (800) 273-8255

Jed Foundation works to reduce suicide among college students in the U.S and offers a toll-free National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-TALK.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is staffed by trained volunteers, day and night, for online chat, or call 1-800-273-TALK

Trevor Project Lifeline is staffed by trained volunteers, day and night, for online chat, or call (866) 488-7386

Trans Lifeline is staffed by trained transgender volunteers. Call (877) 565-8860

Or call 911 

DarNesha Green, LMSW, PMC, SSW

Darnesha is excited to serve the team as the Mental Health Clinical Supervisor. As a certified K-12 administrator, licensed clinical social worker, and certified school social worker, she has spent nearly two decades in the field of education and clinical practice. She has witnessed firsthand the profound impact that holistic support can have on students' lives. Her goal is simple: to ensure sustainable student wellness. By fostering strong partnerships between home, school, and community, she believes they can empower students to reach their full potential. Darnesha is here to support the Bridge Clinical team in implementing effective school-based clinical services for the local districts.



Stacey Doyle, LMSW, SSW

Stacey is a certified school social worker and endorsed Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist with a remarkable career dedicated to fostering mental well-being at its core. Devoted to community service, Stacey actively works towards dismantling mental health stigma and advocates passionately for social justice. In her pivotal position as an Inter-Agency Mental Health Coordinator, Stacey leverages her extensive experience in systems work to enhance mental health services, foster collaboration among diverse agencies, and establish a robust support network for those in need. Her tireless dedication underscores the transformative power of mental health support and advocacy in creating a more resilient and interconnected community.



Kara Williams, LMSW, SSW

Kara Williams is a licensed clinical social worker with experience working in crisis, drop-in, homeless/runaway youth shelter, and private practice settings. She obtained her MSW at the University of Michigan with a focus in supporting youth and families in 2018, then went back to school for her school social work certificate in 2023. Kara has an undergraduate degree and working background in theatre arts and continues to pursue the marriage of art and healing in her therapeutic work. It is her belief that in order to care for one’s mental health, care also has to be given to the community at large. In this position, Kara strives to bring compassion, safety, and both individual and collective empowerment into the spaces she supports.



Gina VanDuinen, LMSW

Gina is a licensed master-level social worker with training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Wraparound Facilitation. Gina brings extensive experience to her work with youth who have survived complex trauma. She has also supported families affected by various challenges, including involvement with the juvenile justice system, child welfare system, addiction, grief, and loss. Having been on the receiving end of therapy since adolescence, Gina personally understands the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the profound journey of healing. Her aim is always to create a safe and therapeutic space for the youth and families she works with. Gina is committed to remaining aware of the inequalities faced by Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), womxn, queer/trans/non-binary individuals, and disabled persons. Her mission is to provide therapy with an integrative approach, considering the whole person, their strengths, emotional support, spirituality, and community resources to aid in reaching their treatment goals.



Jessica Fonville, LMSW

Jessica Fonville is a licensed clinical social worker with the Bridge Clinical Team at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. Jessica received her MSW degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work, with a focus on childhood and adolescent development and community organizing. She has spent the last several years working with some of our community’s most vulnerable youth and families providing crisis intervention, case management, and wraparound service support in youth shelter, drop-in center, and educational settings. Jessica is passionate about positive youth development work and providing holistic and strengths-based support to help young people be successful in reaching their goals.



Kanika Spears, LMSW, SSW

Kanika Spears is a fully certified licensed master social worker and certified school social worker. She received her MSW degree from Wayne State University's Advanced Standing Program with a focus in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). For nearly two decades, Kanika has supported the mental health and well-being of K-12 students in various school districts. She is passionate about designing data-driven curriculum for psycho-educational groups. Her dedication to integrating the arts into her clinical practice and her commitment to a holistic approach to serving students is distinct. Kanika is eager to continue to cultivate partnerships and collaborations with our local school districts and community through service, advocacy and empowerment.



Steven Hall, LMSW

Picture of Steve HallSteven is a licensed clinical social worker with training and experience in Restorative Practices. He received his MSW from the University of Southern California with a focus on Adult Mental Health and Wellness and a focus on Veteran Populations. Since entering the field of social work nearly a decade ago he has experience working with homeless adults, adults and youth involved in the criminal justice system, and high school aged youth. He has worked as an Outreach Worker through the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, a Juvenile Probation Officer through the Trial Courts of Washtenaw County and as a Behavioral Intervention Specialist through Ypsilanti Community High School. He is excited to be part of the Bridge Team and has a passion for helping youth see past their circumstances to reach their full potential.



Sarah LeVar, LMSW, SSW

Photo of Sarah LeVarSarah is a licensed clinical social worker with the Bridge Clinical Team at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and has her School Social Work Endorsement. She has over 15 years of experience working with children, youth & families in Washtenaw County focused on social justice work. Her training background includes DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), as well as Somatic and Attachment based therapies. Other areas of experience include working in residential substance abuse treatment programs for youth, residential transition to independent living programs, unhoused family services, community mental health with children and families, and both group and individual private practices. She cares deeply about social justice work and using a trauma informed approach to work with individuals, families, and systems to better meet the mental health needs of children & youth.



Kara Lilly, LMSW, SSW

Image of Kara LillyKara is a licensed clinical social worker with an MSW from the University of Michigan. Her area of concentration was interpersonal practice. She later went on to obtain her school social work license.  Kara has 15 years of experience working with individuals across the lifespan, but for the past 10 years has worked in general and alternative education settings. Most recently, Kara has worked in the field of education as a School Social Worker for students K-5 as well as a Social Worker for an alternative education program. Kara being exposed to the most vulnerable of students led her to want to identify ways they could be better served through creativity, collaboration and working with an interdisciplinary team. Kara also has experience in school attendance outreach, restorative practices, mental health, crisis intervention and has worked with the following other populations: Pre and postpartum mothers (Maternal Infant Health Program), incarcerated and re-entering individuals, dual diagnosis consumers, homeless and/or unaccompanied youth, court involved youth as well as older adults.



Ashley Laurain, MSW Intern

Ashley Laurain, MSW InternAshley Laurain is an intern with the Bridge Clinical Team and Education Project. She is currently working towards her MSW from Chamberlain University and is set to graduate in August of 2025. Ashley spent the last two years working with the homeless population in Detroit where she contributed to efforts to address homelessness and promote housing stability. She brings a collaborative spirit and a deep sense of empathy to her work, always striving to empower others and advocate for social justice.




Leticia Horry, MSW Intern

Leticia Horry (She/Her/Hers) is a current MSW graduate intern with the Bridge Team and Education Project. Leticia has completed her undergraduate studies focused in Psychology, Sociology, and Leadership in Communication in Organizations (LCO) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Leticia has continued her education at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor where she is currently a MSW candidate focused in the dual areas of Macro: Management and Leadership and Micro: Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse with dual endorsements in Clinical Practice and School-Based Endorsement. Leticia has experiences that span from the academic K-12 and higher educational environments to clinical teams within Michigan Medicine. Her focus is to provide solutions via evidence and strength-based frameworks to those who experience disparities that would benefit from diverse equitable support. Leticia’s personal mission is to, “always leave things better than I found them, people included,” by promoting healing and restoration of the whole person, system, and community by recognizing strengths and developing personal and systematic goals.

Next Steps

To learn more about the Bridge Team and offerings please contact:

DarNesha Green, Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at:

Email or call (734) 994-8100 ext. 1557

Supports

If you have a student in need of mental health support, but are not in immediate crisis please scan the QR code provided or complete a referral

Q R code for Student Wellness Referral

ADA & Accessibility

Our School Strives To Ensure Our Website Is Accessible To All Our Visitors 

Washtenaw ISD is committed to providing a website that is fully accessible and we are currently in the process of developing a new website to better meet the needs of our customers. Our new website will include improvements to ADA compliance and accessibility, and during this transition, we remain committed to maintaining our existing website's accessibility and usability. 

ADA Compliance

Non Discrimination

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.

Non Discrimination Information

ADA and Title IX CoordinatorADA and Title IX Coordinator
Brian Marcel
Associate Superintendent
1819 S. Wagner Road 
Ann Arbor, MI  48103
(734) 994-8100 ext. 1402
Cassandra Harmon-Higgins
Executive Director, HR & Legal Services
1819 S. Wagner Road 
Ann Arbor, MI  48103
(734) 994-8100 ext. 1311