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Weslaco ISD outlines multi‑tier CARES mental‑health program; officials say 10,208 students reached in tier‑2 services
Summary
Dr. Linda Mae Vierra told trustees the district’s CARES mental‑health framework uses Panorama SEL curriculum and an array of contracted providers; she reported about 10,208 Tier‑2 interactions, 5,498 Tier‑3 interventions and 814 students on treatment plans this school year.
Dr. Linda Mae Vierra, the district’s lead mental‑health counselor, presented a year‑long overview of Weslaco ISD’s Counseling And Restoring Every Student (CARES) program and the supporting multi‑tier system of interventions. Vierra described Tier 1 universal supports delivered in classrooms, Tier 2 targeted small‑group or individual interventions, and Tier 3 intensive clinical services provided by licensed professional counselors (LPCs).
Vierra said the district relies on Panorama for its SEL curriculum, has trained staff using Youth Mental Health First Aid and has expanded partnerships with outside providers. "The curriculum that we have chosen is called Panorama," she said during the presentation, describing district efforts to upload age‑appropriate lessons and align campus calendars. Vierra reported training 750 employees to date and said the district used 55 vetted contracted vendors for outside services.
In data the district presented for the most recent school year, Vierra reported Tier‑2 service counts of elementary individuals (231), elementary groups (266), secondary individuals (1,053), secondary small groups (1,713) and secondary large groups (6,945), for a Tier‑2 total of 10,208 student interactions. For Tier‑3 she reported 2,512 elementary and 2,984 secondary interventions (5,498 total) and said 814 students were on treatment plans this year.
Trustees asked about referral timeliness, continuity of counseling across school transitions and evidence of impact. Vierra said in‑house referrals begin services quickly and outside agencies typically schedule intakes within two weeks; she said earlier evaluations showed attendance and grade improvements for students who completed counseling but that routine longitudinal reporting had not been maintained. She also described plans to expand mobile LPC coverage so all five LPCs can visit district campuses next year and to continue use of electronic referrals through the district’s eSchool platform.
Board members pressed on monitoring and accountability: one trustee asked for contract language to ensure carriers or vendors assume responsibility for incorrectly paid claims in a different agenda item; in the mental‑health discussion trustees requested clearer ongoing outcome tracking. Vierra noted parental consent is required for interventions beyond Tier 1 and described summer availability of contractors for parent‑requested services.
"We have 55 contracted vendors that have all been vetted through our HR department," Vierra said, noting the range of specialties available to match students’ needs.
The presentation concluded with trustees thanking staff and saying they would follow up on data reporting and staffing assignments.
