The Orange County Department of Education’s (OCDE) Mental Health and Wellness unit has received the Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association (CSBA) for its efforts in establishing WellSpaces within schools throughout Orange County.
The Orange County WellSpace Initiative, led by OCDE, provides a blueprint for implementing these dedicated spaces. It is a collaborative effort supported by the Orange County Health Care Agency, CalOptima Managed Care Plan, and founding partner Rady Children’s Health of Orange County. This initiative has launched 80 WellSpaces, currently serving nearly 90,000 students across the county, with more than 80 additional schools on a waitlist to adopt the program.
Each WellSpace offers students a safe, supportive environment to process their emotions. Concurrently, the initiative equips school staff with evidence-based strategies to guide students. Activities provided within WellSpaces include gratitude practices, mindful breathing exercises, journaling, nature-based art, and mindful movement. Beyond offering a place to unwind, the program aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and provide students with practical tools to support their emotional well-being.
Mayu Iwatani, OCDE’s senior administrator of the Mental Health and Awareness division, stated that the award recognizes the team’s commitment to creating welcoming spaces for students to address their challenges without judgment, helping them build self-awareness and coping skills. She also expressed pride in her team's work, which helps students “thrive academically and grow as kind, compassionate young people,” highlighting their dedication and willingness to innovate.
Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean commented that WellSpaces provide students a place to “pause, reset and develop healthy ways to manage stress” before returning to class prepared to learn. He added that the Golden Bell Award is a recognition of the OCDE team and their school partners for making this possible.
The CSBA, now in its 47th year of the Golden Bell Awards, annually spotlights school programs and initiatives across the state that incorporate data-driven approaches to enhance student success and well-being. The awards aim to highlight exemplary work by school districts to share information about effective educational strategies.
As concerns about youth mental health continue to grow, creating easily accessible support systems remains a critical component of the response. The WellSpace model is designed to be both replicable and adaptable, allowing schools to implement the approach in ways that meet the needs of their diverse student populations. Winners from all 21 categories of the Golden Bell Awards will be formally recognized at a reception and ceremony, with the time and place yet to be announced.
