UVM program provides mental health resources to rural schools

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A new program is ensuring that all kids have access to mental health help - no matter which part of the state they call home.

While students in urban parts of Vermont may have several school therapists and social workers, rural learners can be hard-pressed for help.

The University of Vermont just created a pipeline of support to rural pockets to close this gap.

It's a full house at Vergennes Union Elementary School with nearly 250 students filling the halls.

Until recently, there was only one school counselor to go around.

"We just had unmet needs that manifested in lots of different ways, whether students were internalizing or externalizing in their behavior," said Vergennes Union Elementary School Principal Matthew Deblois.

Deblois says it was a game changer when a UVM counseling student joined the crew. She interns twice a week, easing other staff's workload and working more closely with students.

"I think they're able to access her as a trusted adult, you know? I think any kind of small group or individualized attention could be appreciated," said Deblois.

A growing number of young Vermonters face depression and anxiety, but many in rural parts of the state lack resources for help. Vergennes Union Elementary School and a school in Cabot are pilot sites for a program UVM hopes will change that.

Using a $3.8 million grant from the US Department of Education, UVM just created the Catamount Counseling Collaborative for rural schools.

Over the next five years, UVM will train and place 52 mental health counselors and social workers at rural schools across Vermont to level the playing field.

"We were just looking at these communities that were outside of Burlington, and how just the resources weren't quite making it there," said Anna Elliot of UVM.

Since rural schools often lack funds to entice staff to stick around, UVM will incentivize students to stay at their placement.

"School-based professionals are often not paid as much as they deserve, and so we have an extra pot of money that we're able to give them if they can stay in the community if that helps them stay," said Elliot.

Collaborative students work closely with school supervisors and their communities to prepare to address students' needs. Still, that means rural schools without the resources to mentor collaborators won't be the top priority. Elliot says those are often the schools that need the most help.

"It's this two-fold prioritization of making sure that we're providing really good training for our students and attending to this access," said Elliot.

While it's not a perfect solution, program organizers say the collaboration is a giant step forward in breaking down mental health barriers across rural Vermont. Principal Deblois can attest to that - with fingers crossed vergennes' intern sticks around for the long haul.

"I'm hopeful that she stays around Vermont and provides those kinds of opportunities across the board," said Deblois.

UVM is working with the Vt. Department of Education to select rural schools and aims to start placing students this semester.