More than 125 students across the Sioux Falls School District have already received support through a new school-based mental health pilot program designed to bring services directly into schools.
Earlier today, partners from the Sioux Falls School District, Avera Health, and the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation gathered at Terry Redlin Elementary School to provide a first-year update on the Rooted in Schools program and the early impact it is having on students and families.
The three-year pilot program launched in late 2025 and currently serves students at Washington High School, Whittier Middle School, and Cleveland, Terry Redlin, and Rosa Parks elementary schools. Through the partnership, licensed mental health therapists are embedded directly into school communities, making it easier for students to access support during the school day.
For many students and families, having services available in a familiar and trusted environment removes barriers that can sometimes make mental health support difficult to access.
“We’ve already seen a 14% increase in attendance among students participating in the program,” said Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Dr. Jamie Nold. “This is an encouraging sign that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Therapists currently see about 25 students each week at every participating school, and some schools already have waitlists for services. Early data from the program also shows a decrease in disruptive behaviors among participating students.
The program is administered by Avera Behavioral Health in partnership with the Sioux Falls School District and funded through the Seed for Success Foundation, a supporting organization of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. Together, the organizations worked to identify gaps in youth mental health services and create a solution focused on early intervention and student success.
“Students can’t reach their full potential if access, time, and resources are a barrier to behavioral health care,” said Thomas Otten, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Avera. “When schools prioritize mental health support, they’re not just helping students cope, they’re giving them the foundation to learn and thrive.”
Students participate in the program through a teacher recommendation and parent or guardian permission. Therapy services are billed through insurance when possible, and support for uninsured students is covered through the Seed for Success Foundation.
District leaders say the program is one more way schools are working to support the whole child, helping students feel connected, supported, and ready to learn.