Though faced with the similar challenges of urban schools, rural schools often lack the resources to provide appropriate and adequate supports to all learners. With the help of creative funding and a(n) outside community partnership, all Montello students, regardless of status, are eligible to receive therapy-based interventions from a licensed therapist. Using a student study team protocol, students who would benefit from this type of support are appropriately identified, and intervention impact is measured and evaluated as part of the larger MLSS structure. We have found a way to creatively provide access to mental health services- an area that has often been met with barriers and struggles.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn how to establish onsite therapy for students as part of a larger MLSS structure.

• Participants will learn how to creatively partner with organizations outside of school district boundaries to create greater access to mental health resources.

Presentation Content:

• The presentation will provide participants with the knowledge of how you can use community partnerships to provide in-house mental health services to all students (not just those who lack insurance, referred from the county, etc.).

• Additionally, the participants will learn how we created a tier 3 intervention that is specific to mental health needs, and because it is part of our larger MLSS structure, intervention impact is regularly reviewed and adjusted based on real-time evidence.