Friday, April 26, 2024
An effort to help students get the counseling sessions they need has resulted in the Gatesville Independent School District Board of Trustees approving a memorandum of understanding with the University of Texas Medical System and Dell Medical School.
"There is a backlog (of student appointments with LPCs (licensed professional counselors," said Scott Harper, assistant superintendent of academic services for the district.
"We're always looking for resources and the telemedicine platform would allow the students to receive counseling sessions without requiring them to leave school. We just need to provide a quiet private place for the session and then get them right back to class. This is a grant-funded program."
Harper said there are January and summer launches for the program, and he hopes to be able to get students served starting with the spring semester.
"They offer five short-term sessions, and they can link students to someone if long-term sessions are needed," he said.
"An urgent same-day assessment is available. It's all free to the school and free to the families. It's just another resource for us to use."
Harper said there aren't enough local counselors available to provide sessions to students and having to drive out of the area can be a hardship for families and also take away valuable school time.
"With this program, students are able to get their counseling sessions and not miss out on school," he said.
Board member Linda Maxwell asked if each campus has a designated spot for the counseling sessions.
"We will work on making sure that's available," Harper said.
