Washoe County School District highlights community partners that feed families, provide same-day health care and mental-health navigation
Summary
District leaders presented partnerships with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Community Health Alliance, Care Solace and the Rotary Club of Reno, citing 37 school pantries, school-based same-day appointments in five Sparks schools, and a Care Solace contract available to all district students and staff.
Washoe County School District trustees heard a presentation Jan. 27 spotlighting community partnerships that support student academic outcomes by addressing food, health and behavioral-health needs.
Chief Student Services Officer Paul LaMarca said the district works with Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Community Health Alliance, Care Solace and the Rotary Club of Reno to remove barriers that interfere with instruction. "We know that hungry children cannot learn," LaMarca said as he described school-based food pantries and referral networks.
LaMarca said the district currently hosts 37 food pantries in schools and cited Food Bank figures stating the organization provided more than 23,000,000 meals last year (organization-wide) and, since 2021, about 1,400,000 meals in Washoe County serving roughly 45,774 families locally. Nicole Lamboli, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, thanked district staff for rapidly coordinating resources during a recent lapse in SNAP benefits.
LaMarca also described a pilot with Community Health Alliance in five Sparks-area schools offering same-day appointments, including dental services, aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism. Oscar Delgado of Community Health Alliance told trustees the partnership helps families access appointments quickly and noted plans for a May 13 expansion groundbreaking.
LaMarca said Care Solace, a behavioral-health navigation service, is available to all students, families and staff regardless of residence because the city of Reno holds a contract that allows district access. He described Care Solace as a resource-brokerage that helps families find mental-health and basic-needs services and said the district completed a soft launch in October and trained counselors, psychologists and nurses.
The Rotary Club of Reno was highlighted for donations and direct support, including a $10,000 contribution used to train high school teams in SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) and assistance to the Children in Transition program for motel assistance, clothing and supplies.
Trustees and staff discussed volunteer opportunities and encouraged student service tied to school-community programs. Clerk Clark Hall and Trustee Beth Smith asked Food Bank representatives about volunteer events and the "Kids Cafe" after-school program, and Lamboli said the Food Bank is exploring back-to-school volunteer events and continues summer- and break-feeding programs administered under USDA rules.
The presentation concluded with trustees thanking partners for their roles in supporting students and families across the district.
