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Newton County Schools lays out tiered wellness supports, teletherapy partnerships and outreach plan
Summary
District staff detailed a tiered student well‑being framework using RethinkEd, Hazel Health teletherapy and Viewpoint Health clinicians, plus communications tools (QR code, ParentSquare) to improve access to mental‑health resources.
Newton County Schools presented an overview of a district‑wide, tiered well‑being system designed to expand access to mental‑health and emotional‑wellness supports for students.
Dr. Sheila Thomas described a three‑tiered model. Tier 1 provides universal social‑emotional lessons using RethinkEd aligned to CASEL competencies and is delivered by classroom teachers or counselors; Tier 2 offers targeted supports and social worker collaboration with families; and Tier 3 supplies intensive clinical services through the district’s partnership with Viewpoint Health, which places licensed clinicians in schools for direct therapy and care coordination.
The district also highlighted Hazel Health as its teletherapy partner, offering confidential clinical interventions before, during and after school and during school breaks. Staff said Hazel Health services can be accessed via referrals from school staff or parents and that services are provided with insurance billing options and no out‑of‑pocket cost to families under the district partnership.
To increase visibility and access, the district launched a student well‑being resources QR code and a dedicated “Student and Family Support” section on the district website. Communications will include monthly wellness tips via ParentSquare and webinars or podcasts on the Parent Connect platform; the district noted an upcoming Parent Connect conference on Saturday, Sept. 20, where Vice Chair Shakila Henderson Baker will deliver a keynote on mental‑health awareness.
Board members and the vice chair praised the approach and emphasized the need for access in a community experiencing student behavioral health challenges. The presentation stressed the district’s goal of equitable, “fingertip” access to resources and described school‑level strategies such as wellness tables at events, banners and posters, and integration of resources into existing after‑school and parent‑facing events.
No formal action was taken; the board received the informational report and commended staff for the expanded services and outreach plans.
