Newington board hears annual report on in-school mental health program; clinicians cite improved attendance, discipline and grades

The Newington Board of Education heard an annual report Sept. 10 from Effective School Solutions, the contracted provider delivering in-school, tier-3 mental health services at the high school and both middle schools. ESS presenters said program data from the last school year showed improvements in academic and behavioral metrics for students in the program and described growing demand that the district is monitoring.

ESS clinicians told the board that students in the program receive an average of five services per week — above the company benchmark of three — and that, across categories tracked (GPA, attendance and discipline), 66 percent to 96 percent of students either improved or maintained outcomes depending on the category and service tier. ESS representatives also highlighted a 60% opt-in rate for the program’s billing initiative and said state-level attention and visits from lawmakers and…