Perham Dent Counselor Builds Resilience, Expands Community Mental Health Support

On November 25, 2025 Perham Dent High School showcased the outreach and day to day counseling led by Courtney Rooney, a longtime mental health professional whose work reaches beyond the school halls. Rooney operates a range of services that include individual therapy, group work, family interventions, and community events such as daddy daughter dances and holiday food baskets. The emphasis on relationship building, resilience and practical supports has become a visible pillar of student life.

Rooney’s path into social work and school counseling informed a hands on approach that blends clinical practice with community programming. Her role includes crisis support and longer term interventions, while also creating structured opportunities for students to contribute to community events. Those activities serve dual purposes by meeting immediate material needs during the holiday season and giving students a sense of agency through organizing and participation.

In recent years Perham Dent High has expanded its mental health capacity. The school now has several staff providing student support, reflecting a broader decision by the district to invest more resources in counseling and family engagement. That shift matters locally because sustained school based mental health services can influence attendance, disciplinary outcomes and students ability to complete school, all of which have direct implications for families and the local workforce pipeline.

The community dimension of Rooney’s work is pronounced. Programs that bring parents and caregivers into the school help rebuild social connections that faded for some families during economic and social disruptions of the past decade. Holiday food baskets delivered by student teams illustrate how therapeutic goals and community service can reinforce one another, turning supports into reciprocal relationships.

Looking ahead, ongoing investment in school mental health will require continued budgetary choices by the district and community partners. For Otter Tail County the model at Perham Dent offers a practical blueprint for how coordinated counseling, family outreach and community events can strengthen resilience among teens and support broader social stability.