Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1526508
Virtual therapy helps student thrive Fourth grader Sara*, age 9, had struggled with anxiety since the pandemic. "She didn't go to school for almost two weeks," says her mom. "I didn't know what to do." A school counselor suggested virtual therapy, a new service provided at no cost through Providence's Well Being Trust. Not long after starting the program, Sara told her mom, "It's really working!" She now attends school regularly and uses tools and coping resources that she learned from her therapist. One idea Sara tried recently was to intentionally start the day with a positive thought. When she got home from school that afternoon, she exclaimed to her mom, "I told myself I was going to have a great day, and I did!" * Student's name was changed for privacy n SOCIAL IMPACT + 2,000+ therapy sessions completed in the first year + 7 mental-wellness-themed assemblies + 5 training sessions provided to teachers + 4 secondary schools adopted Work2BeWell curriculum INTRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL GOVERNANCE ABOUT US PROVIDENCE | ESG REPORT | 26 MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES Teaming up with Seattle Sounders FC to support youth mental health In 2023, Providence and Seattle Sounders FC announced an unprecedented community partnership to address the youth mental health crisis. As part of the partnership, Providence's Well Being Trust is funding virtual mental health services throughout the Renton School District for the next three years. Through this partnership, 15,000-plus students now have access to: • Tele-mental health therapy from school or home, at no cost • Programs fostering a culture for kids to prioritize their mental well-being and support their friends • Events and assemblies using the Work2BeWell curriculum developed through Providence's Well Being Trust • Safe places to play As a community, we are working to address the social, emotional and mental health needs of our students, and this partnership along with the new virtual therapy service expands access for all of them, filling a key gap in a comprehensive mental health support system. Victoria Blakeney, director of student support, Renton School District