(LaPorte, IN) - The La Porte School system is helping students and their families going through

challenging times.

 

The Adverse Childhood Experiences program has existed for a couple of years now.

Volunteers are trained to help school children under 18 in distress.

Sources of distress range from substance abuse and violence at home

to financial troubles.

 

Sarah Pessmeg is a 5th-grade counselor at the Kesling Intermediate School.

She said the need here has gone up dramatically in recent years citing figures from the Indiana Youth

 

Institute that shows the number of students needing service has gone up from 5.2 to 13.1 for every 1,000 students.

 

Pessmeg said mental health and physical health issues can arise in children experiencing

major problems at home.