Mental health plays a significant role in a child’s development. The human brain is the command center for the body and 90% of a child’s brain develops by 5 years old (First Things First, 2023). According to WHAS11 ABC, of the 19 Kentucky school districts, only six meet the state’s mandated ratio of one counselor to 250 students. 

Increasing Need for Mental Health Support

Hopeful Futures Campaign reports that Kentucky has roughly 678,000 K-12 students; the following data demonstrates the increasing need for prioritizing the mental health needs of Kentucky students.

The Value of Licensed Social Workers & Professional Counselors in Academic Settings

Professional counselors and licensed social workers are able to act as support systems for children dealing with difficult situations beyond their control. Creating an environment that encourages students to openly express their frustrations with intention of identifying solutions enhances their problem-solving skills and adds value to their educational experience. Members of our team take pride in applying person-centered approaches toward evidence-based practices that help students, and their families, cope with difficult scenarios. 

COVID-19 Increasing Need for Mental Health Care

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that roughly half (56 percent) of public schools moderately or strongly agreed that they could effectively provide mental health services to all students in need, according to data released today by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) (2022). Inaccessibility to care can result in further deterioration of a child’s conditions and may increase the learning barriers they face.

What Can be Done?

Aspire Day School was founded with the intention of reducing learning barriers for students facing mental health and behavioral health challenges. We take pride in creating holistic learning environments that encourage positive outcomes for our students. Having learning environments that integrate education with mental health allows students to understand that they are not alone in their learning journey and there is a team of educators and mental health professionals here to support them and their families.