Overview

Despite robust student mental health and social emotional learning programs, Hudson Public Schools (HPS) in Hudson, Massachusetts noticed a dramatic increase in the volume and intensity of student needs following the pandemic.

“Coming off the pandemic, the mental health issues are so much harder and bigger for kids and families that it's kind of scary,” says Catherine Kilcoyne, HPS’s Director of Student Services.

In particular, HPS leaders felt that the social isolation of the pandemic has slowed the social and emotional development of many students.

Located about 30 miles east of Boston, HPS has a student body of 2,340 students across five schools with over half their students classified as having high needs (54%).  

The Challenge

Despite HPS’s multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and extensive investment in student services staffing, HPS counselors found that they could not provide the individualized attention and care that many students now required. 

At the same time, in the greater community of Hudson, students were unable to access therapy due to overwhelming demand. Making this access more difficult, 36% of HPS students are low income and 17% are English language learners. 

“Every time a kid needed counseling, there were so many waiting lists they couldn’t get anywhere,” says Catherine Kilcoyne, HPS’s Director of Student Services.

“We are not a mental health facility. Schools are not built to be the clinicians that come between home and school.” 

The Solution

HPS first learned of Cartwheel when their consulting psychiatrist heard about its services at a mental health conference. HPS district leaders had not previously considered telebehavioral healthcare as a solution, but they were compelled by the flexibility and convenience offered by Cartwheel’s model. 

“In order to help kids be successful, you have to provide services,” says Kilcoyne.

HPS leadership felt that Cartwheel was a worthwhile investment because Cartwheel clinicians could offer the intensity of care that overburdened counselors could not. In addition, Cartwheel’s telehealth model could ensure that students receive care outside the context of school, enabling them to remain engaged and present throughout the school day.

The Impact

Since partnering with Cartwheel, district leaders have mobilized HPS’s extensive team of mental health professionals to connect students to Cartwheel and expand HPS’s ecosystem of care. 

As Cartwheel clinicians help to bring specialized care to students and fill gaps in Tier 3 student care, HPS counselors are empowered to focus on bolstering supports elsewhere. At the same time, the Cartwheel team works to facilitate communication with school counselors to ensure seamless care coordination for each individual student. 

Cartwheel also helps ensure uninsured and low-income students receive care alongside those with insurance. Additionally, Cartwheel’s multi-lingual clinicians are better equipped to serve HPS’s diverse student body. 

In addition to Cartwheel’s direct therapeutic services, HPS has enjoyed taking advantage of Cartwheel’s parent guidance service to help assist families in caring for their students.

In the ‘23-24 school year, HPS referred over 140 students and families to Cartwheel for mental health services, primarily for anxiety, relational issues, and stress. Of those referred, 14% of students and 26% of primary guardians speak a non-English language at home. On average, students who graduated from care with Cartwheel completed 12 sessions, indicating very strong engagement in services. 

After a strong first year, HPS plans to continue partnering with Cartwheel to provide access to mental health services for all its students, and in particular looks forward to enhancing support forEnglish language learners.