Mental Health Initiatives

At Montgomery County Public Schools, we know that academic growth goes hand in hand with emotional well-being. We are fully committed to supporting the "whole child" by building a compassionate, proactive safety net for our students and families.

Gaggle Therapy

An informational infographic for free teletherapy for MCPS K-12 students in partnership with Gaggle Therapy. It highlights "Flexible & Confidential" options with evening/weekend sessions. Comprehensive services include: Individual Group Family Conflict Resolution A central stat notes a 82% rapid matching rate with a licensed therapist within 3 days. Rules include: Completely free Parental consent required Exclusive for students not seeing outside therapists The 3-step process is: Talk to your school counselor Referral routed for district approval Get matched & begin therapy

School Counselors

An educational infographic titled "Understanding School Counselors: Supporting Students in Every Building." It details How Counselors Support Student Growth across three areas: Academic Growth: Classroom lessons (study skills) and group counseling (motivation). Career Growth: Exploration, planning, and skill development. Social-Emotional Growth: Individual sessions (goal setting) and peer relationships. Key Program Details: Qualified Professionals: Each holds a Master's Degree in Counseling. Designed for Short-Term Support: Typically 4 to 6 sessions per student. Parental Rights & Control: Parents retain complete control over participation, with an option to opt-out during annual registration. Seeking More Intensive Support? Community Resource List: A list of independent agencies is available upon request. Important Note: The list is not comprehensive, MCPS does not endorse specific providers, and it serves as a helpful starting point.

NRVCS

Here is the alt text for the third image you uploaded (the NRVCS partnership infographic). I have also included the text for the first two images again just in case you need to copy them all from one place. Image 1: Gaggle Teletherapy An informational infographic for free teletherapy for MCPS K-12 students in partnership with Gaggle Therapy. It highlights "Flexible & Confidential" options with evening/weekend sessions. Comprehensive services include: Individual Group Family Conflict Resolution A central stat notes an 82% rapid matching rate with a licensed therapist within 3 days. Rules include: Completely free Parental consent required Exclusive for students not seeing outside therapists The 3-step process is: Talk to your school counselor Referral routed for district approval Get matched & begin therapy Image 2: Understanding School Counselors An educational infographic titled "Understanding School Counselors: Supporting Students in Every Building." It details How Counselors Support Student Growth across three areas: Academic Growth: Classroom lessons (study skills) and group counseling (motivation). Career Growth: Exploration, planning, and skill development. Social-Emotional Growth: Individual sessions (goal setting) and peer relationships. Key Program Details: Qualified Professionals: Each holds a Master's Degree in Counseling. Designed for Short-Term Support: Typically 4 to 6 sessions per student. Parental Rights & Control: Parents retain complete control over participation, with an option to opt-out during annual registration. Seeking More Intensive Support? Community Resource List: A list of independent agencies is available upon request. Important Note: The list is not comprehensive, MCPS does not endorse specific providers, and it serves as a helpful starting point. Image 3: NRVCS Partnership An informational infographic titled "Partnership for Student Well-Being: Montgomery County Public Schools & NRVCS." Dedicated On-Site Support in Every Building States that every MCPS building has a licensed NRVCS counselor providing direct counseling services throughout the day. Supports students, families, school staff, and outside staff. NRVCS Counselor: Direct Liaison & Service A central diagram shows the NRVCS Counselor connecting multiple groups (Student, Parent, Medical Cross, Physician) through key services: Direct Behavioral Health Support Solution-Focused Care Referrals as Needed Family Support & Check-ins Coordination with School Staff Confidential Student Counseling Eliminate the Barriers Emphasizes providing Direct Access in School for Seamless Support, More Progress. Helping Families Access Key Services Path 1: On-Site Counseling: For individual and small group support in a safe space. Path 2: Referrals to Community Care: For specialized outpatient and in-home treatment. Path 3: Wellness Planning: For coordination and support outside the school.

Gaggle ReachOut

An informational infographic titled "Free 24/7 Crisis Support for Middle & High School Students: GAGGLE ReachOut." Access Anytime, Anywhere: 24/7 Support: Highlights round-the-clock real-time support and connection. Three Contact Methods: * Text with trained crisis counselors. Chat with trained crisis counselors. Phone with trained crisis counselors. Key Program Information: Know What to Expect: Prompts users to view an "Example ReachOut Conversation" by clicking a link. Eliminate the Barriers: Explicitly notes that this service is available for Middle & High School students. How to Access Support: QR Code: A scannable QR code labeled "Scan Me." Phone Number: A placeholder field displaying

Employee Assistance Program

An informational infographic titled "Free EAP Support for Employees & Dependents: Confidential & Solution-Focused." Access & Confidentiality: Free & Confidential: Services are completely free of charge. No Names Reported to MCPS: User anonymity is protected. Locations: Available in the New River Valley & Roanoke. Offers a Fixed Number of Brief Counseling Sessions. Core Counseling Services: A central circle highlights solution-focused services for employees, including: Assessment & Referral Substance Use Concerns & Mediation Workplace & Grief Support Violence Risk Conflict Resolution Response Life Coaching Eliminate the Barriers: Highlights support is provided for both Employees & Dependents (all family members). Wellness Resources & Videos: Features an Educational Video Library covering topics such as: Depression Sleep Smoking Cessation Mental Wellness Cooking & Nutrition

Vertical promotional poster for a mental health support line featuring a faceless illustration of a person with long brown hair. Text over the face reads "I’M FINE." while surrounding comic-style speech bubbles display the conflicting internal thoughts: "I FEEL SO MAD AND ANGRY!", "I FEEL UGLY AND STUPID.", and "NO ONE UNDERSTANDS." The bottom banner includes a ReachOut QR code, the phrase "Counselors are ready to listen to you today!", and the contact line: "CALL OR TEXT: 540-515-4493".

National Counseling Group

An informational infographic titled "Partnership with National Counseling Group (NCG): Behavioral Health in Schools." NCG: Critical Behavioral Health Care & Support Services are provided by a Dedicated NCG counselor directly within school buildings during the school day. In-School Support Services: Includes individual sessions, small group support, emotional check-ins, and skill building. Collaboration & Support: A central circle highlights "Easy Access, Solution-Focused Care" through: Direct behavioral health support Family & student connection Collaboration with MCPS counselors Confidentiality Eliminate the Barriers: Focuses on providing Easier Access for Families and Uninterrupted Schedules. How to Connect with NCG: Path A: Contact NCG Directly: Call 1-800-NCG-HELP or visit www.n.ncg.ncg/llibrsport. Path B: Contact Your Student's School Counselor: For parents to connect through referral sources.

Therapeutic Day Treatment

Offers Specialized & Intensive Support for children with serious emotional disturbances in a highly supported, focused classroom. Services are delivered directly within school buildings during the school day. In-School Support Services: Includes intensive individual counseling, structured small group support, emotional & behavioral check-ins, and skill building & coping mechanisms. Specialized Care Collaboration: A central circle outlines an "Integrated Support, Positive Outcomes" approach involving: Community partners like NCG and NRVCS. Specialized care for high needs. Collaboration with school staff and parents. Eliminate the Barriers: Emphasizes providing Direct Access for Families and ensuring Uninterrupted Learning. Program Funding & Accessibility: Path 1: Medicaid & FAMIS Funded: For eligible families. Path 2: Sliding-Scale Fees: Self-pay options for ALL families, making essential care accessible to parents.

Case Managers

An informational infographic titled "Case Managers: Vital Bridge to Community Success for Families." Dedicated Support for Children Offers support for children with serious emotional disturbances. Case Management Services: Includes facilitating referrals, coordinating transportation, family support & planning, and connecting with outside staff. Direct Liaison: Connecting All Points of Care A central illustration shows a case manager standing on a bridge, linking multiple points: Family School Staff Physicians Outpatient Care Intensive In-Home Treatment Psychiatric Services Medication Services Eliminate the Barriers: Focuses on providing Direct Access to Services to yield Less Stress, More Progress. Helping Families Access Key Treatment Paths Path 1: Outpatient Care: For regular therapy & groups. Path 2: Intensive In-Home Treatment: For intensive, home-based support. Path 3: Ongoing Psychiatric & Medication Services: For sustained medical care.

Horizontal promotional poster for Montgomery County Public Schools' ReachOut program set against an autumn forest background. The poster features a QR code to "SCAN TO CHAT NOW!" and text that reads: "Life can be confusing. We are heretohelp! SOMEONE IS READY TO LISTEN TO YOU." It prominently displays the phone number 540-515-4493 and notes "Counselors are available 24/7."