Pawnee Announces Team Leading School Based Services
Investing in children’s mental health is essential to ensure they can get the proper care at the right time. Pawnee Mental Health provides onsite services in schools by partnering with local school districts through the School Based Services program. The School Based Services efforts for Pawnee Mental Health are led by Colleen O’Connell, School Based Services Manager, Megan Arroyo, School Based Services Therapist, and Karsen Staudt, School Based Services Therapist.
Colleen O’Connell, LSCSW, has a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Kansas State University, and a master’s degree in social work from Washburn University. In 2017, O’Connell joined Pawnee’s team as a Youth Community Services intern and continued as an intern in the Crisis Services department for her clinical practicum. In 2018, O’Connell was hired as an Outpatient Therapist, providing individual and family therapy and school-based therapy in the USD 383 school district. This led to her promotion in 2020 to the School Based Services Manager position. In the past three years, O’Connell has worked to build the School Based Services program to engage and support the districts in our service area.
Megan Arroyo, LMSW, has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. In 2022, Arroyo joined Pawnee’s team as a school-based clinical intern and began working full-time as a School Based Therapist in September 2023. Before joining Pawnee’s team, Arroyo served as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army for nearly ten years. While completing her degree, Arroyo worked in the human resources department at Irwin Army Community Hospital.
Karsen Staudt, LMFT, has a master's degree in human development and family science specializing in couple and family therapy from Kansas State University. In 2022, Karsen joined Pawnee’s team as an Eastern Outpatient Therapist and began working full-time as a School Based Therapist in July 2023. Before joining Pawnee’s team, Staudt, through internship saw therapy clients at Manhattan High School and the K-State Family Center.
Pawnee Mental Health has partnerships with the following school districts within our service area: USD 113 (Axtell), USD 320 (Wamego), USD 322 (Onaga), USD 323 (Rock Creek), USD 379 (Clay County), USD 383 (Manhattan), and USD 475 (Junction City).
“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our School Based Services team. These dedicated professionals bring a wealth of experience and passion to enhance our services,” said Jurdene Coleman, Director of Therapy Services. “I’m confident, with their knowledge, we can play a pivotal role in the overall mental wellness among local students.”
For more information on our School Based Services at your school, contact your school administrator or sbs@pawnee.org.
Pictured from left to right: Colleen O’Connell, School Based Services Manager, Megan Arroyo, School Based Services Therapist, and Karsen Staudt, School Based Services Therapist
