CHICAGO-Students across Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will soon have access to virtual healthcare services as part of efforts to address mental health needs among youth. Starting in mid-March, approximately 110,000 high school students throughout the District will have access to high-quality, clinically-validated mental health services through Hazel Health - the nation’s largest school-centered provider of telehealth services – supported through an investment from UnitedHealthcare. Starting in mid-March, students will be able to access services at home, and will be able to access at school appointments as schools join the program.
“Even before COVID-19, our students faced unique mental health challenges, and the need has only grown over the past several years. This new partnership with Hazel Health, combined with the support of UnitedHealthcare, highlights our District’s dedication to prioritizing the mental, social, and emotional health of both students and staff,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “As a public education system, our mission is to help students succeed and that includes both academic aspirations and empowering our children to navigate life’s daily challenges with the support they need to thrive.”
Students in Chicago are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Consistent with national trends, data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that 43 percent of Chicago high school students reported persistent sadness – a 42 percent increase in just 10 years. CPS’ five-year strategic plan includes connectedness and well-being as key priorities, laying out strategies to approach student learning by considering the whole child’s physical health, mental health, safety, social and emotional needs, and academic achievement. This new partnership is supported through an investment from UnitedHealthcare as part of a broader effort announced last year to provide virtual school-centered health care for up to 1 million students across select states nationwide. Additional districts throughout Illinois will be announced soon.
“UnitedHealthcare is committed to improving the well-being of our community by providing students with the essential mental health support they need through collaborations like this one with Hazel Health,” said Dan Parietti, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Illinois. “By leveraging innovative technology, we aim to create a supportive environment where every student can thrive both academically and emotionally.” “We firmly believe that the challenges our communities are facing today should not get in the way of students having access to the support and quality services they deserve,” said Josh Golomb, CEO, Hazel Health. “Through our partnership with Chicago Public Schools, not only are we providing students with mental health services, we’re helping them navigate daily struggles and empowering them to make meaningful, lasting improvements in their overall health and wellbeing.”
Hazel Health, the nation’s largest provider of school-centered telehealth, serves 5 million students in 17 states. A third-party study conducted by Clemson University found that 75% of students who participated in Hazel’s online therapy program experienced clinically significant reductions in depression and anxiety after an average of six sessions. Additionally, early research also indicates that Hazel’s therapy program can combat chronic absenteeism. One emerging data point: 68% of students who engaged with Hazel’s therapy program improved their attendance – and over 30% had zero absences — since their referral to Hazel. To learn more, please visit hazel.co.
About Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is dedicated to providing a high-quality education to all students, beginning with the District’s free full-day preschool programming for four-year-old scholars and continuing through neighborhood, magnet and selective-enrollment elementary schools that provide a rigorous K-8 education with schools that specialize in the fine arts, world language and culture, dual language, STEM, International Baccalaureate (IB), classical programs, and more. The rising District-wide freshmen-on-track and high school graduation rates reflect the hard work of the CPS community, including families, staff, and students across 635 schools. CPS celebrates the diversity of its more than 325,000 students who cite more than 190 home languages. Learn more about CPS at www.cps.edu and connect with CPS on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
