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Fabens ISD expands on-campus mental-health services and adds self-referral QR codes
Summary
The Fabens Independent School District told trustees it now offers Emergence Health Network services on every campus, introduced a district nurse hire, and will distribute QR-code posters allowing parents to self-refer students for counseling and telepsychiatry.
Fabens Independent School District announced July 16 that Emergence Health Network mental-health services will be available on every campus and that parents will be able to self-refer students using QR-code posters the district will distribute.
District media specialist Sofia Maciel said the services include counseling, case management and telepsychiatric appointments that students can use on campus. "You can also see [a psychiatrist] from the comfort of your campus," Maciel said.
The district also introduced Laura Lara as the new nurse at Fabens Middle School. "I am excited to come back to the community," Lara said during the superintendent update portion of the meeting. The administration noted Lara has almost 30 years of experience and has worked in the Fabens community previously.
Mila Ramirez, speaking about the Emergence Health Network partnership, told trustees the service is already in every campus and that the district is the first in the city to give every student access at all campuses. Ramirez said delays can occur between referrals and appointment scheduling when parental consent forms or contact present barriers; the new QR-code self-referral system is intended to reduce that lag. "Now the parents can actually self refer their students," Ramirez said.
Trustees heard the updates during the superintendent recognitions and monthly updates section of the July 16 meeting; no board action was required for the program update. The district framed Emergence services as available for students who need assistance with medication or psychiatric evaluation, and as resources that can be accessed without leaving school grounds.
District staff also used the superintendent update to promote a districtwide back-to-school community event scheduled July 19 at Fabens Elementary, which the district said will include backpacks, school supplies, immunizations and other resources.
The board did not take formal action on the Emergence program during the July 16 meeting; presenters described operational steps the district will take this summer to publicize and implement the self-referral posters and on-campus scheduling procedures.
Trustees and administration said the goal is to increase timely access to mental-health care for students by reducing administrative barriers to scheduling and by offering telepsychiatry at school sites.
The district’s presentation did not include a written timeline for when QR-code posters will appear at each campus or an estimate of program costs; presenters said parental consent and scheduling remain operational tasks handled by the Emergence program and campus staff.
