Mental Health Clinicians in Schools
Providence partners with the Anchorage School District and the Kodiak Island Borough School District (via the Providence Kodiak Island Counseling Center) to provide integrated mental health services within local schools. Through these partnerships, school clinicians provide mental health expertise and immediate access to care. School-based services help reduce stigma, decrease access barriers and improve care by allowing clinicians to observe students in their natural environment.
Learn more about school-based mental health services in Alaska.
Integrated mental health means school clinicians are present for and involved with many aspects of school life. They are at drop-off and pick-up, in hallways, in the lunchroom, at recess, inside classrooms, at staff meetings and family nights.
We work alongside administrators, school counselors, psychologists, teachers and support staff to tailor strategies to support each unique school, student and family. This approach provides broad support to the school community and targeted interventions while also offering more intensive services to students who need additional support.
Anchorage-area middle school principal Marcus Wilson says, “The more training we do on how trauma affects the brain and how it really stunts development, the more we are gaining an understanding of why these services are so valuable.” Learn more about integrated mental health.
- School-wide support: Available to anyone in the school community. Services may include training or education, wellness support, consultation and outreach within the school and with community partners.
- Targeted support: Provided to students, families or school staff who need additional support or connection to outside resources. Services may include individual or group student support, family support, staff support, resource navigation, consultation and crisis intervention.
- Intensive services: Provided to students experiencing a significant life stressor and/or mental health concern. Services may include an assessment, treatment plan, case management, individual/group/family therapy and/or crisis intervention.
We offer integrated mental health services within certain Anchorage School District (ASD) schools. Currently, we have clinicians at Lake Otis Elementary, Muldoon Elementary, Tudor Elementary and Wendler Middle. Families and school staff can refer a student for services through their school counselor, school nurse or administrator.
For more information, email: schoolbasedservices@providence.org.
This effort is supported through a partnership with VOA Alaska, Alaska Behavioral Health and the ASD. Together, 18 ASD schools have an integrated mental health clinician on staff.
Any student or family in an ASD school with a clinician on staff may have access to services.
Targeted and intensive services are referral based. A student experiencing any of the following may qualify for a referral:
- Anxiety, fear or worry about safety of self and others
- Increased distress (e.g., angry outbursts, aggression, increased absences)
- Change in ability to understand and/or respond appropriately to social cues or concerns
- Increased physical complaints (e.g., headaches, stomachaches)
- Change in school performance (e.g., work habits, organization)
- Statements or questions about death and dying
- Difficulty with authority, redirection or criticism
- Inattention, fidgeting, easily distracted, off task or difficulty following directions
- Needing access to basic needs or community support
We provide school-wide and targeted services to students, families, and school staff at no cost (covered through public and private funds). Intensive services are billed through insurance or private pay. Services and support in schools are voluntary and caregivers are not required to utilize Providence services.
For targeted and intensive services, caregivers will need to provide permission and/or consent.
We accept all forms of insurance. Medicaid will cover the cost of services. However, some private insurers will not cover the total cost. Providence offers financial assistance to assist in the cost of services. We won’t turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.
Visit our Providence Alaska Pricing Transparency webpage to see prices of our most common services, including the services provided within school-based services.
During times of anxiety and stress, we want to help your child and your family get the mental or emotional support they need. These resources support your child’s wellness and/or the wellness of your family: