Cumberland County Schools rolls out Alongside mental‑health app for grades 6–12

Cumberland County Schools on a recent Family Academy Facebook Live session outlined how the district has deployed the Alongside mental‑health app for students in grades 6 through 12, describing the app’s features, safety protocols and early usage data and urging parents to review a district demo and provide permission before students enroll.

The district said the app gives students a private space to journal, watch short mental‑health videos, set goals and track mood; a chatbot called Kiwi guides exercises and flags safety concerns for school staff and crisis resources. “It’s an app that students can use either on their computer or on their phone, and it’s where students can receive immediate mental health support,” said Dr. Natasha Scott, executive director of student services for Cumberland County Schools.

District officials said the app is intended to complement—not replace—school counselors and social workers. “It’s meant to work alongside the counselor and the social worker,” Scott said. The district requires parent permission before a student may use the app and said a public demo and…