College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin Addresses Mental Health Support for Texas Public School Students

The Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI) is a part of the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Its mission is to help more low-income high school students get into and succeed in college with access to mental health services. In the fall of 2022, IPSI approached MDLIVE, a telehealth provider, about partnering to offer online mental health resources to public schools in Texas. The program was launched in February 2023 and is run by Connie Dawes. The program aims to support low-income middle and high school students by providing encouragement, assistance, and preparation for higher education. IPSI plans to follow the enrolled seventh and eighth graders throughout their public school education and into their first year of college, providing mental health services whenever necessary till 2029.

To read more about how IPSI plans to help students in Texas have access to mental health services and the counties they currently serve, click here.

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