Corpus Christi ISD’s logo, which combines an apple, a traditional symbol of learning, with a heart, exemplifies the district’s approach to student mental health and wellness. Meeting students’ behavioral and mental health needs is essential if students are to learn, thrive, and succeed. Ms. Jennifer Arismendi, CCISD’s Chief Instructional Support Officer who oversees the mental health, guidance, and health departments, said, “we know that we have to do Maslow before Bloom.”
As a high school principal, Dr. Kimberly James, Deputy Superintendent, experienced the trauma of student suicide, and this led her to advocate for comprehensive resources within the district to support student mental health. She discovered that the number one problem in dealing with students at risk of self-harm was the limited number of child psychologists. A district level administrative position for Mental Health Specialist, Dr. Maria Iyescas, was added in October of 2021. Within the last year, CCISD has expanded its services to add TCHATT in addition to the 14 mental health care professionals supporting campuses.
CCISD piloted TCHATT in two schools during the 2021-22 school year and this year, has expanded the program to all 10 of its high schools. School-based social workers provide short-term, solution-focused counseling, but some students need more help than counselors can provide. The decision to refer a student is made after a thorough assessment by a counselor and a social worker consulting with parents. “It’s really a group coming together, it’s not just one person making this decision,” said Maria. A family can wait six months or longer for an appointment with the two licensed child psychiatrists in the area. With TCHATT, they are connected to a licensed psychiatrist in just a few days.
Another benefit of CCISD’s participation in the TCHATT program, according to Jennifer, is the comprehensive training package in behavioral and mental health that is available for all the teachers, counselors, and staff through UT Rio Grande Valley, who they said has been a great partner. “That kind of research-based training is very expensive, but all our staff can now access it for free, even at schools that are not using TCHATT.”
Maria noted that TCHATT has resulted in positive outcomes for students referred to the service and parents have been grateful for the support. She shared that, “After just one month, a parent told me she saw a 180-degree change in her daughter, who suffered from extreme anxiety. She still has anxiety, but she now has tools to calm down. She’s more talkative, she’s not withdrawing in her room, and she’s coming to school.” TCHATT was able to respond to the family more quickly than they could get an appointment with her child’s primary care provider. “Our students love it,” said Maria, “they don’t want to miss a meeting.”
Learn more about how Corpus Christi ISD is using TCHATT.