HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Hamilton County Schools is bringing school-based mental health services back to the board agenda after ending its previous agreement with Centerstone.
On Thursday, the Hamilton County Department of Education board will review memorandums of understanding with five companies that a selection committee picked to provide a choice of services for students’ parents.
The agenda for Thursday’s meeting says board members have narrowed their selection process to these 5 companies, some or all of which may ultimately be contracted:
District officials say these agreements could expand the options for providing therapy, counseling, and other mental health support to students directly on school campuses.
“We wanted to give parents a choice,” says school board member Felice Hadden.
The move comes after months of debate and concern over student mental health services in Hamilton County. Earlier this year, the district ended its partnership with Centerstone, leaving many parents, students, and principals worried about gaps in care.
Board meetings saw emotional testimony from students sharing struggles with anxiety, depression, and trauma, as well as parents urging the board to ensure safe and consistent mental health support.
The decision to reopen the discussion follows a new request for proposals from multiple providers. School officials have emphasized stringent background checks and quality standards for any company offering services in classrooms, aiming to prevent issues raised in the past.
Some board members and community advocates have warned of potential harm if mental health services are delayed or disrupted, while others have questioned political motives in past debates over student support programs.
The district says it is still reviewing how each potential agreement would work and what changes would be in place this time. Officials have not yet announced which company or companies will ultimately be selected.
But a memo on the agenda for Thursday’s board meeting shows a Hamilton County selection committee recommends the board approve all five contracts:
“What I expect and what I hope is that all five are approved,” Hadden says. “Some parents might feel more comfortable with the faith based therapist.”
Kim Cook is the clinical director for ELU counseling and says if their MOU with Hamilton County is approved, the first phase of their work with students would be done through telehealth.
“The staff are equipped with a specialty to integrate faith into the practice or spirituality, if clients are looking to incorporate that into their counseling sessions.”
The MOU’s on the agenda also note that each vendor requires parental consent before working with students.
“It’ll be a clear consent form, just like you would sign at a medical practice to agree to receive the services for counseling.”
The memo says the district wants to respond to feedback from the community and the board, including not missing valuable core-classes for therapy.
The MOU is written so it would take students out of extra-curriculars instead
Parent Keri Stevenson Adams spoke to us months ago about the need to reinstate mental health services in school.
With the potential for five new ones, now she says she has…
“A lot of concern over how it all gets executed.. And whether.. in practice.. [my daughter] will have any choice.”
Another part of the agreement requires all vendors to supply background checks on any employees who work with students.
Depend on us to keep you posted on Thursday’s meeting and the future of student mental health services in Hamilton County Schools.