One hurdle to therapy, even when it’s medically necessary, is accessibility. Whether due to a lack of Medicaid-certified therapists or the complexities of parent and child schedules, many students who could benefit from therapy are unable to access these crucial services.

At KVC West Virginia, we aim to provide healing, supportive services to every child who needs them. That’s the heart behind our school-based therapy program. Explore how our school-based therapy services make a difference for children and teens in need.

Learn more about KVC’s child, family and adult therapy services.

What is School-Based Therapy?

School-based therapy provides social, emotional and behavioral health support services to students for whom it is deemed medically necessary. School-based therapy allows students to receive support during their school day without leaving campus.

Sarah Marshall, MSW, LICSW

“While many students may access therapy in a community office, often the behaviors and some of the pain points that a student may be experiencing are happening at school,” explains Sarah Marshall, KVC Regional Director. “We can go in and work with that student on those symptoms they may be experiencing.”

In addition to bringing therapy into an already structured, safe environment, school-based therapy allows KVC therapists to partner with school personnel and counselors to meet the students’ needs. This helps them succeed in school and out.

Ultimately, school-based therapy aims to remove barriers that may prevent a student from getting the support services they need. It reduces stress for both parents and students by:

• Eliminating transportation issues
• Coordinating appointments around school and work schedules
• Addressing concerns or challenges in the environment where they occur

And because this is a medically necessary service, KVC West Virginia directly bills Medicaid, resulting in no cost to the school or student!

How School-Based Therapy Works

While the therapy occurs at school, it’s still necessary for a parent or caregiver to sign consent paperwork and be involved in their child’s treatment. Here is what the process looks like from referral through the therapy itself:

1. Referral

If a parent or student is interested in school-based therapy and their school is part of this KVC West Virginia program, their school counselor will have the referral forms and can help families complete them. The school may also refer a student if deemed necessary due to in-school behaviors or needs. However, the parent will always be contacted by the therapist and asked to give consent before therapy can begin.

2. Assessment and First Meeting

When a student is referred to the school-based therapy program, the school’s designated KVC therapist will contact the parent or caregiver directly and invite them to an initial meeting to learn about the program. During this initial period, caregivers will also sign paperwork and the therapist will assess whether the treatment is medically necessary.

School-based therapy is medically necessary when a student’s medically diagnosed condition impacts their ability to succeed in school or their personal life. Examples of conditions that may benefit from this program include:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma-related diagnoses  like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• And behavioral disorders like oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder.

NOTE: If a student is not deemed eligible for the program, KVC can help refer them to a more suitable program for therapy, support or mentorship.

3. Initial Sessions and Caregiver Communication

The parent or caregiver is asked to attend the first couple of therapy sessions so the KVC therapist can gather information on the student’s present symptoms. They’ll also discuss any previous behaviors and treatments.

While the parent or caregiver is no longer physically present at sessions after the initial few, their child’s therapist will continue to communicate with them. Some topics they discuss include treatment progress and questions.

Marshall also encourages caregivers to share thoughts and insights that can help their child’s therapist provide the best care. “If the parent has thoughts or recommendations, we love to communicate with them and identify how to implement them within our treatment,” she notes.

4. Ongoing Therapy Sessions

Once the initial sessions are complete and the student is ready to start treatment, the KVC therapist will work with the student on an agreed-upon treatment plan. They will start educating the student on understanding their diagnosis and symptoms. While in therapy, the student will gain coping skills to manage symptoms and build their toolkit based on current challenges.

For example, a student is failing to turn in schoolwork or even complete it because they feel intense anxiety about getting a bad grade. We’ll step in to help them find solutions that soothe their anxiety. Ultimately, they’ll learn how to perform at their best in class.

Who is Eligible for KVC’s School-Based Therapy Services?

Any student for whom treatment has been deemed medically necessary and who attends a West Virginia school that partners with KVC to provide school-based therapy is eligible for referral. Currently, we offer school-based therapy in the following counties:

• Hampshire,
• Hardy,
• Jefferson,
• Marion,
• McDowell,
• Morgan,
• Wyoming County Schools.

How Schools Can Partner with KVC West Virginia

All schools in counties where we serve are eligible to partner with KVC West Virginia’s school-based therapy program! Contact the KVC regional director for your nearest KVC location if your school is interested in learning more.

Then, we will work with your school to develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Once that’s in place, we’ll provide the information required for referrals when a student, parent, faculty or staff member believes that student would benefit from therapy.

KVC West Virginia has served children, individuals and families for more than 20 years. In addition to school-based therapy, we also provide foster care, reunification support, adoption, in-home family services, educational support, and child, family and adult therapy. Take a look at our locations across West Virginia.