K-12 administrators consistently list student and staff mental health as one of their toughest challenges. COVID-19 exacerbated existing problems, leading to a crisis that lingers. The emotional wellbeing and academic progress of millions of students are still impaired, and teachers continue to leave the profession due to burnout. 

Fortunately, the Federal Government has given out multiple waves of funding to assist in addressing these needs. Over $200 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds and over $350 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were allocated to aid school districts with pandemic-related challenges, including helping students and teachers with mental health needs.  

It’s important to note that all ESSER funds must be committed to an eligible activity by September 24, 2024 and all ARPA funds must be assigned by December 31, 2024. 

With the obligation deadlines for the final and largest wave of ESSER and ARPA funds approaching, school districts have the chance to tackle mental health challenges by using those earmarked dollars. Based on our experience, school districts can use ESSER and ARPA funds to great effect by partnering with third party providers to expand their generally limited internal resources. Care Solace, a mental healthcare coordination service, has done just that for hundreds of school districts across the country.   

A Care Solace partnership is fully vetted for ESSER and ARPA aid, so it’s a smart choice for meeting the obligation deadlines. 

Why prioritizing mental health resources in schools matters 

• 44 million adults in the U.S. are suffering from mental illness 

• 46% of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life 

• Between 2016 and 2019, the number of children diagnosed with anxiety or depression grew by 27% and 24%, respectively. 

• In a Rand Corporation survey conducted in the spring of 2022, 75% of parents said their child would benefit from mental health counseling– up from 68% in 2021. 

• Mental health conditions are not only the single greatest cause of worker disability claims, but 62% of missed workdays can be attributed to mental health conditions, which only exacerbates current teacher and worker shortages. 

• Untreated depression can cost employers almost $10k per employee per year in absenteeism and lost productivity 

How the Care Solace partnership works  

A Care Solace partnership gives your students, staff, and their families the opportunity to get the right care at the right time by: 

• Providing full mental health case management services. 

• Removing the typical barriers to care. 

• Quickly identifying high-quality professionals who are taking new patients. 

• Booking appointments within a short time frame for prompt treatment. 

• Eliminating the necessity of recruiting and hiring mental health staff in a competitive market. 

• Tapping into a highly experienced care coordination team serving more than 900 school systems and 20 million individuals. 

With the final and largest round of ESSER and ARPA funding approaching, there’s never been a better time to increase the capacity and scope of your mental health services. Click here to learn more about how Care Solace can help you put students and staff first with mental health care. 

U.S. Retirement & Benefits Partners and its family of Partner Firms are proud to offer the Care Solace Solution through Care Solace. Calm the chaos and provide timely access to community-based care through 420K verified providers and social services.