On Friday, April 22, the Washington County Public School District announced a partnership with Mercer University’s Rural Health Innovation Center to provide mental health resources to select students. This initiative was first introduced to the District by Georgia State Representative Mack Jackson and will utilize a telehealth platform to provide students with therapy services through Mercer University.
With parent permission, select students will be able to use the services at scheduled times during the school day. The services will be scheduled during times that will not negatively impact academic progress. Following multiple visits to the School District, Mercer is set to facilitate the launch of the pilot program this month.
“Social Emotional Wellness is a critical component to developing the whole child,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Rickey Edmond. “We are thrilled to start this program in the Washington County Public School District and want to thank Mercer University for this partnership.
The District Wraparound Services Team consisting of Georgia Larimore (Student Support Director), Misty Ivey (School Social Worker), and Audra Gilbert (RTI/MTSS/SEL Facilitator) lead the operations of the program. They are assisted by school-based counselors and parent engagement coordinators.
“This is another layer to the Social Emotional Supports that the District offers our students, and we are thrilled to add it to our resource bank,” Facilitator Audra Gilbert stated. “We know that now, more than ever, many of our students have emotional needs that must be addressed. It is our mission to develop the whole child, and to do that, we must meet their needs.”
While the initial launch of the program is solely available to select students, Washington County Public Schools plans to extend the program to additional students in the 2022 – 2023 school year.
