SAN ANTONIO – Districts across San Antonio are prioritizing mental health, not only for students, but for staff as well.
Northside ISD has been running their Care Clinic for almost a year. It’s a service that allows the people taking care of your kids, to also take care of themselves.
“The demand is high, as you could imagine post Covid, and we want to reduce the stigma of the need for mental health services,” said Kimberly Ridgley, the Assistant Superintendent for Whole Child Development for NISD. “We really feel like this clinic has done that.”
The clinic occurs at the Student Services building after district staff goes home. Offices are turned into makeshift counseling rooms, complete with sound machines, fidget toys, and more.
It’s just one of the ways NISD is working to support the mental health of district employees and students.
We told you back in March that Bexar County approved grant funding so that several districts could expand mental health care for both staff and students.
Now, we’re checking back in.
“What will that money go toward, and is it already in action?” Jordan Elder asked.
“That money is well in action,” Ridgley said. “We are funding a program that we call SEEDS.”
It’s a partnership with Communities in Schools that allows students to see a counselor on campus, which breaks down the barriers for families who can’t afford it, or can’t transport their students there.
According to Communities in Schools, the SEEDS program is comprised of licensed mental health professional teams (social workers and counselors) who serve students from any campus.
For more information on Northside’s mental health resources, click here.
In North East ISD, the money will go toward more counselors and more resources from UT health.
“We hired two District Safe & Healthy school counselors. They will be primarily working with elementary, and some middle school campuses,” said Carrie Trejo, the Director of At-Risk Student Leadership and Support Services. “We saw a real need there.”
That program will roll out next month.
“Staff is in place, and kids are identified and ready to go,” said Rose Garcia, the Director of Guidance for NEISD. “We’re also using T-CHATT to help service our families as well.”
TCHATT, or Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine, is run through UT Health. It offers mental health evaluations and short-term counseling.
NEISD employees have access to ComPsych, which offers employees confidential emotional support, legal guidance and other resources 24/7.
For more information on programs offered to students, visit neisd.net/student-leadership.
Both districts say the money will make a huge difference in students lives over the next few years.
The funds come from the American Rescue Plan, which means it must be allocated by 2026.
“We’ve heard from students that they need mental health support, and so we’re working really hard to make sure that need is met,” Ridgley said.
In the future, Northside will roll out a peer support system to help students.
Ridgley says they know students often go to each other first when crises arise, so they plan to partner with the city to train kids on how to refer their friends to safe adults.
The district is currently running a campaign called “Mental Health Matters” with QR codes to help students get resources and set up meetings with counselors.
Alamo Heights ISD, Judson ISD, and other districts also received county funding for mental health programs.
To see the breakdown of how much money was allocated to them, click here.