The Importance of Social Emotional Wellness and How Various Camden Schools Are Tackling it

“CAMDEN, NJ — Tracy Foedisch, one of the founders of Hope Community Charter School, was always aware of the large undocumented population in Camden. But she says the pandemic helped put the topic in a new light.

It was while working with staff to be provide resources for the school’s more than 130 students. Virtual sessions but also safe in-person visits were set up to support them during the difficult year.

“In a variety of homes, one of the things I noticed was the group of residents who are challenged with English language skills or afraid to seek services because, for instance, they are undocumented,” Foedisch told TAPinto Camden.

“I think that’s a door that’s opened for us…something I saw more when I started to go out to homes,” Foedisch said.

Hope has partnered with organizations like ImmSchools in order to train staff on better addressing students’ needs as they rise. The school also received $100,000 from the Camden Education Fund’s (CEF) new Open Doors/Safe Classroom grant program.

The program, set up to help schools better face the hurdles of the global pandemic, provided a total of $800,000 to the following: Camden City School District, Camden’s Promise, LEAP Academy  University Charter School, Hope Community Charter School, Freedom Prep Charter School, KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, Mastery Schools of Camden, and Uncommon Camden Prep. “