The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD board of trustees on Jan. 17 voted unanimously to enter into a memorandum of understanding with UT Health San Antonio to provide mental health and behavioral services to students as part of the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine.
The TCHATT program was approved by the 86th Texas Legislature allowing for school districts to participate in the mental health care consortium and provide counseling through video chats, according to SCUCISD Chief Academic Officer Kelly Kovacs.
Kovacs told trustees that 56 Texas-area school districts are already participating in the free program with UT Health San Antonio. UT Health San Antonio serves Bexar County and 34 other Texas counties, she said.
Students are referred to the program by their school counselor and must have parental consent. All referrals are reviewed within 72 hours so that students can access counseling quickly, Kovacs said. The program is open to all SCUCISD students with no other requirements needed for care, she said.
