During a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the involvement of Community Health Resources (CHR) in Killingly and the pressing mental health needs of students in the area. A board member inquired about the motivations behind CHR's engagement, referencing the CRAC report from December 2021, which highlighted alarming mental health issues among students. The report was first brought to the board's attention in March 2022.

CHR representatives acknowledged the significant need for mental health services, confirming that they currently work with 29 active cases in intermediate schools and 15 in high schools. They also noted an increase in inquiries from families at Memorial School, indicating a growing demand for services.

The conversation also touched on whether current student patients had previously received services from CHR's community-based offices. While specific records were not reviewed, it was suggested that some students may have lacked access to such services before CHR's integration into the schools.

Furthermore, CHR officials reported an uptick in student patients at their community clinics in Danielson and Willimantic, attributing this rise to increased awareness of their services following their school-based initiatives. The meeting concluded with a discussion on chronic absenteeism, confirming that CHR therapists are equipped to work with students facing this issue, further underscoring the organization's commitment to addressing the mental health challenges within the student population.