At the Duquesne City School District, tackling social and emotional well-being is a group effort. Beyond both general and targeted efforts by staff, the district partners with a number of providers.

One of the district’s more creative partnerships is with the Chill Mobile, a retrofitted RV that provides interactive mental health lessons. Since it was conceived in 2022, the Chill Mobile has regularly visited the district for three-week lessons with our students and teachers. The Chill Mobile is made possible through a partnership between the AHN Chill Project and Pittsburgh Pirates Charities.  

“We recognize that academic success is deeply intertwined with emotional safety, and we’ve worked intentionally to create an environment that promotes trust, respect, and emotional support,” said Duquesne City Superintendent, Dr. Sue Mariani. “Through restorative practices, mindfulness sessions, and expanded counseling services, students have been equipped with the tools to navigate the challenges they face both inside and outside the classroom.” 

The Chill Mobile is a social and emotional program which works to decrease the mental health stigma, while teaching preventative, evidence-based coping strategies.  Over the course of Chill Mobile visits, Behavioral Health School Educators facilitate immersive, interactive lessons which engage all senses, to maximize participation and learning for all involved. In addition, teachers and educators are provided instruction and tools to continue putting mental wellness practices to work in their school community long after the Chill Mobile's final visit.

“I think it’s a lot of reinforcement of things they already know. Sometimes kids don’t know the best way to express themselves and their feelings,” said Karen Cooper, one of the Chill Mobile’s Behavioral Health School Educators.  

“We like working with them and having conversations about what they think and what they feel. A lot of our lessons are reminders to them that they can talk about their feelings and how to do it in a way that can help them get help if they need it.”

As the Chill Mobile has built regular relationships with various school districts — like Duquesne City — Cooper said that students eagerly anticipate the visit, knowing that the Chill Mobile offers an approachable and unique method to tackling mental health.    

“It’s really nice. We get a lot of positive feedback. We go back to a lot of schools and there will be specific students who want to tell us about something in their life. It’s nice that we create a safe space for them, and a lot of them love to be able to take a break and talk to someone,’ said Cooper    

“Just looking at the acuity of mental health over the past few years, it’s decreased when you consider COVID and how life is changing, with all of the technology around us. The Chill Mobile kind of goes back to our roots of talking face to face and getting along with people, because we can’t always hide behind a screen or have that distance. It’s really important to know how to interact with others.”