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A telehealth program implemented in Polk public schools more than two years ago has been used 11,308 times, with mental health therapy sessions rising in the second year and physical health visits declining in year two.
All sessions are free and are conducted virtually through a tablet, desktop computer or other smart device via Hazel Health, a company under contract with Polk County Public Schools.
Why it’s important: Students who don’t feel well won’t do well in school, district officials say. And for some families, it is the only medical care they can afford for their children.
The program is praised by Katie Bates, whose two youngest children used it to visit counselors when they lost their father and brother in a car accident two years ago.
The two, now ages 10 and 13, are students at Rochelle School of the Arts and “are loving the arts just like their dad,” Bates said. “There are still lots of tears, but we try and focus on making (her husband and son) proud and honoring their legacies.”
In addition to the counseling, she said her 13-year-old gets frequent headaches. The school nurse can’t give her Tylenol or ibuprofen.
“By being signed up for Hazel Health, it allowed an HH nurse to do a quick Facetime evaluation and give permission for her to take headache medication at school,” Bates said. “This allowed her to miss fewer days of school. Hazel Health even diagnosed her appendicitis last year!”
Service providers: Nationally, more than 4 million kindergarten through 12th grade students use Hazel Health for teletherapy and virtual care, talking to a physician, nurse practitioner and physician associate. Mental health providers are licensed social workers, marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and licensed mental health counselors.
This free service is available for all families from home and in schools. The school district is charged about $10 per student each year — or about $1.15 million per year.
For those who have insurance, it will be billed, but with no co-pay.
During Hazel Health’s virtual visits, students can receive treatment for common minor issues like stomachaches and headaches, as well as mental health counseling for anxiety, depression and other issues.
How it works: Parents who opt their children into the program (Read the parental consent form) grant permission for Hazel Health medical professionals to listen to their child’s concern and dispense any free, over-the-counter medication necessary — from Tylenol to Pepto-Bysmol. Prescriptions can also be written, but must be filled by parents.
Physical health services are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
School district officials say more than 90% of students returned to class after using the telehealth service for physical ailments.
By the numbers: Mental health sessions for Polk students are up, while usage for physical ailments has dropped.
Mental health therapy sessions:
- 1,760 in the 2022-2023 school year.
- 2,072 in the 2023-2024 school year.
Physical health provider visits:
- 3,809 in the 2022-2023 school year.
- 3,497 in the 2023-2024 school year.
Counseling: Mental health services include scheduled short-term therapy visits for coping with issues from anxiety, depression and grief to peer and family relationships and bullying. Hazel Health can also make referrals to local providers for longer continuity of care.
School district officials have said for several years that Polk County students, like their counterparts in Florida and throughout the country, are in a mental health crisis, with 9% of Florida students attempting suicide in 2021 and 39% saying they felt sad or hopeless. Heid wanted to contract with Hazel Health in large part to help those students in need.
Sessions and hours: Each student can typically expect an intake visit plus six weeks to two months of weekly sessions before being discharged from the Hazel program.
Mental health services are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Crisis consultations are only available at school, during school hours.
What does Hazel Health not do? The company’s medical staff will not evaluate or treat symptoms related to sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy, nor prescribe or recommend contraception.
Hazel Health does not dispense free prescription medication. It also does not treat any child without parental consent.
Opposition: Some people in the community were opposed to the program when it began two years ago, saying the school district has no place in taking care of students’ health. District officials disagreed.
“We’re providing a service for students who might not otherwise have access,” District spokesman Kyle Kennedy wrote on the PCPS Facebook page. “We strive to serve all PCPS students, and some parents don’t have the means or access to routine medical care. This also could help with student attendance and achievement, which benefits our families and school district.”
Kennedy explained the opt-out process, as well.
“Unless you provide consent, no services will be provided whatsoever,” he said. “However, if the opt-out is not selected, the school nurse/staff still have the option of contacting a parent to see if they’d like to consent to Hazel Health services if a situation arises. By clicking the opt-out, parents will not be contacted AND students will not receive Hazel services.”
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Thank you for info on Amendments that are coming up on November 5th. I read the info on Amendment 6th and do plan to read the rest. Very helpful. Pam