Dougherty County highlights school‑based health centers and $19 million in mental‑health grants

Superintendent Dr. Dyer gave a strategic‑plan update emphasizing student wellness and the district’s investments in school‑based health services and mental‑health supports.

He said the district now operates eight school‑based health centers (opened starting in 2013) and two dental centers; the health centers have recorded tens of thousands of visits since opening. The district also received a $15 million school‑based mental‑health grant to place licensed therapists, social workers and additional student support professionals for middle and high school students, and a separate $4 million Project Prevent grant for behavioral interventions and restorative practices at the elementary level.

"We assessed our middle and high school students using the PHQ‑8 and found about 24% screened moderate to severely depressed," Dr. Dyer said, noting the grants fund licensed mental‑health counseling at no cost to families identified through screening.

The superintendent also described wraparound services (nutrition programs, family resource centers, partnerships with community providers) and cited data showing targeted investments improved content mastery at three elementaries over a four‑year period. He urged continued advocacy for stable state funding to scale services to schools with concentrated poverty.

Why it matters: Expanded on‑site health and mental‑health services can reduce access barriers for students in high‑poverty communities; multi‑million dollar grants materially change the district’s capacity to deliver school‑based care.

What’s next: District leaders will continue implementation of the grant programs, integrate screening and referral procedures, and report outcomes to the board.