KEOKUK COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

KCSD partners with Hazel Health to offer free mental health support district-wide

KEOKUK, Iowa – To continue to focus on district-wide mental wellness and the support of every student, the Keokuk Community School District has partnered with Hazel Health to provide free one-on-one mental health support to all students.

“This partnership speaks to the commitment that our staff has to meet the needs of our students,” Dr. Kathy Dinger, KCSD superintendent, said. “They never lose sight of the whole child and they never give up on finding solutions.”

Through this partnership with Hazel Health, all enrolled KCSD students, from preschool-age to seniors, will now have access to and matched one-on-one with a licensed mental health therapist at no cost to families and online at school, or in their own home.

The Hazel therapists individualize evidence-based therapy techniques to “meet students where they are.” According to Hazel Health, the program is “shown to improve mental health, class attendance, and behavior after an average of six sessions.”

The program includes an initial consultation with an intake specialist to assess the student’s specific needs and to set goals in order to customize their plan. For the next two-six months of the program, the student would be matched with a therapist and participate in ongoing one-on-one sessions to work towards those goals. At the end of the program, the students will be given a post-care plan and final report to ensure continued progress.

Some of what the program will provide students includes skills and tools to self-regulate big emotions and build self-esteem and confidence, coping skills, time and stress management, coping with grief and trauma, increased self-awareness and problem solving, and more.

For more information on the KCSD and Hazel Health partnership, go to getstarted.hazel.co/district/keokukschools.