The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Harnett County Schools and Hazel Health are gathering on Wednesday, May 7, to officially kick off their partnership that will bring virtual mental health care services to over 400,000 of North Carolina’s K-12 student population.
Any student who is enrolled within participating districts can access one of Hazel’s on-staff, licensed therapists before, during and after the school day. Hazel services are also available to students throughout the summer break.
Services are live at Harnett County Schools and Durham Public Schools, with more districts to be added in the coming weeks.
This initiative, supported through an investment by UnitedHealthcare, is part of a broader effort announced last year to provide virtual school-centered mental health care for up to one million students across select states nationwide. Read more about the official partnership in NCDHHS’ news release.
More than 1 in 3 high school students in North Carolina have reported feeling sad or hopeless, along with almost 1 in 3 middle school students. While there are early signs signaling improvement, the numbers still paint a grim picture of the health and well-being of our nation’s youngest generation.
Speakers include: Dr. Dev Sangvai, Secretary, NCDHHS
Stacie Forrest, Child Behavioral Health Unit Manager, Division of Child and Family Well-Being (DCFW), NCDHHS
W. Brooks Matthews, Superintendent, Harnett County Schools
Jermaine H. White, III, Ed.S., Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services, Harnett County Schools
Anita Bachmann, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of North Carolina
Kevin Winters, VP of Strategic Growth, Hazel Health
Date: Wednesday, May 7
2 – 3 p.m.
Location: Lillington - Shawtown Elementary School
855 Old US Hwy 421
Lillington, NC 27546
(Google Map)
Members of the Hazel team will be on site to provide a walk through of how students are able to access Hazel services through the end of the 2024-25 school year and throughout the summer.
To learn more or to request b-roll or photos of the event, please reach out to Liz Austin at elizabethaustin@hazel.co or call (203) 339-2992.
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About Hazel Health:
Hazel Health is the nation’s largest and most trusted provider of school-based telehealth. By partnering with districts and health plans across the country, Hazel transforms schools into the most accessible front door to pediatric healthcare. Today, Hazel’s licensed providers deliver teletherapy and virtual care (in school or at home) to over five million K-12 students, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hazel aims to remove all barriers to the mental and physical health care that children need to thrive: in school, at home, and in life.