A free community program in Melrose is working to ensure schools are better equipped to support students' mental health needs.

The Promise Zone Program is offered in nine schools in the Bronx. It is a state-funded program run by VNS Health that offers wraparound community Behavioral Health for all ages. Through the program, students engage in one-on-one sessions with social workers to address their needs.

"Some of the things that we can work on is like how to deal with ADHD, how to understand autism, how to deal with loss, how to express your emotions, healthy relationships, how to ask for help when you need it, and any type of something that could be traumatic to a child," said Keshia Lewis, behavioral health supervisor for the Promise Zone Program.

The program started 12 years ago to support youth in school. Lewis says their purpose is to reduce EMS calls for distressed students and connect them with proper mental health services.

Elaya Evan's 7-year-old son, Jace, is a graduate of the program.

"He had experienced something, and I didn't know how to help my child," said Evans.

Evans said her son had a traumatic experience in school that caused him to struggle.

"I had been trying for so long to get him connected to services, But it's really hard to have a child who is neurodivergent because Jace is diagnosed with autism and ADHD," said Evans.

Evans learned that her son's school offered the Promise Zone Program, and he began counseling services. After he completed the six- to eight-week program, he continued services thorough the VNS Health outpatient clinic in Melrose.

"Now he is in the clinic because he continues to work on the coping skills and the things he's learned and continue to with those skills," said Alice Greenfield, a behavioral health supervisor for VNH Health who works with Jace.

Evans says her son's overall well-being has improved significantly.

"It's been uphill since then, He's doing better in school, he went from not being able to read at all, to being the top reader in his class," said Evans.