Quaker Valley School District selects new mental health service provider for 2024-25 school year

Quaker Valley School District officials believe taking care of a student’s mental health is just as important as their academics, arts and athletics.

That’s why various administrators and professionals evaluated service providers the past several months in order to select one that would best fit the district’s needs.

School board members voted 7-0 on June 11 to contract with The Bradley Center to provide school-based mental health services for the 2024-25 school year.

Board members Melissa Walls and Jessica Webster were absent.

Jennifer Shroads, director of student services, said she and her team of specialists did a thorough vetting process March through May, and made the recommendation to the board.

“The Bradley Center has developed a robust and highly customized school-based therapy program based on the growing numbers of students benefiting from such services,” Shroads said. “(They) will offer a dedicated on-site therapist who will provide individualized, age-appropriate therapy to students while creating a supportive relationship with the school and students’ educational team.

The school district won’t pay for some of The Bradley Center’s work. Therapeutic counseling services will be billed by The Bradley Center to Medicaid or individual commercial health insurance companies.

According to the center’s website, it is “committed to improving the lives of children and families affected by trauma, mental illness or behavioral health challenges.”

The Bradley Center also offers additional at-cost services including professional development supportive counseling services, behavioral consultation services, professional development, group work, parent education, academic and therapeutic school-based services, and mental health consultative services. Utilizing these services would be at the discretion of district administration.

A change was necessary from Quaker Valley’s mental health services provider of at least the past two years, the Holy Family Institute, because it could no longer offer such supportive services.

“Over the past two years, professionals were treating students for a variety of topics including anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress,” Shroads said. “A full caseload for the therapist ranged between 30-35 students each year.

“The district is very thankful for our partnership with the Holy Family Institute. The quality of services and professional teamwork afforded to the district provided an opportunity for students to have access to quality services.”

Board President Jon Kuzma also commended the Holy Family Institute therapists.

“It’s been an important resource for the district,” Kuzma said. “They were a provider back when I was in high school. We’ve had a very long relationship with Holy Family. We’re glad that we’re able to continue offering the service at The Bradley Center, which also has a very good reputation as well.”

Superintendent Tammy Andreyko said students experience a lot both inside and outside of the classroom, and it‘s important they get the support they need.

“Part of the school day is students feeling good and feeling comfortable and feeling secure,” Andreyko said. “We feel it is important for us to be able to continue services for students so they can thrive in our school environment.”

Next school year’s enrollment is about 1,820 students.