The Lean on Me Project Initiatives are driven by the needs of school communities. WE BELIEVE that Collaborations Raise the Bar of Trust & Care of Our Community at Multiple Levels.
THE LOM INITIATIVE PROJECT IS PART OF THE NAMI SARASOTA BRADENTON ORGANIZATION. IT IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE OF YOUR GENEROSITY.
The Lean On Me Project is a program designation with NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) to provide the access necessary to bridge mental health wellness and academics. LOM & The Lean on Me Project also has a direct collaboration with Compeer.
Amy Weinberger, MSEd. and Jordan Stonecypher, who currently attends Lenior-Rhyne University to complete her MA in clinical mental health with a dual licensure in school counseling, were handpicked by a local donor who wanted to give back to teens. Bob Cohn approached Amy after the Mental Health Awareness Program In Sarasota, FL, One Thing I Wish You Knew (January 2019).
Bob inquired if Amy could create an easily accessible mentoring program for schools in the local area. Amy, of course, responded, "YES." Not knowing where this would lead, she pressed on and in February the Child and Youth Mental Health Environmental Scan was released with the support of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. USF compiled the data. The evidence was readily available and by June 2019, Amy and Jordan were ready to pitch it to the Sarasota County School Board administrators. Since Jordan had completed an internship at Brookside for the 2018-2019 school year, she suggested that the middle school community would greatly benefit from a mentoring program. After meetings with the Brookside Administrative Team and the county, all the boxes were checked off, and the first program launched In October 2019.
Then COVID happened. In response, LOM transformed to a 100% virtual mentoring outreach program for students, teachers, staff, and parents to help graduate students to the next grade and offer support to families trying to motivate their kids. When the new school year began (2020/2021), LOM continued mentoring partnerships with NAMI, Sarasota Military Academy and Compeer students. In addition, a mentor/mentee training program at Tatum Ridge Elementary, a lunch program at Brookside Middle School, teacher initiatives such as the Sleep Initiative to improve sleep, online book circles, and other creative initiatives dreamt up by principals, assistant principals, and teachers were sponsored to improve overall wellness during the school day.
For 2021-2022 school year, the LOM Project served 689 students, 324 teachers, and 10 schools in a myriad of ways. Because we have the advantage of cross-over employees between NAMI and the LOM Teams, we are rich in talent, enthusiasm, mental health and academic experts, community connections, and transformative relationships. Here's to 2022-2023 school year and the 17 schools that have chosen us to partner with this year! Cheers!
"There are always miracles gifted to you if you open your eyes!" - Amy F. Weinberger, MSEd
Jordan Stonecypher and Amy Weinberger -
a team for 18 years!
