The Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation was awarded $30,000 to support mental health for students and staff over the summer months by United Way of Greater Austin.
The District’s social workers provide vital services to students during the regular academic year, however, there has not been funding to provide these services during the summer months when students are in summer school.
“We are honored to work in partnership with United Way for Greater Austin and the Round Rock ISD Police Department in utilizing grant funds to provide a number of social workers during Summer Learning,” said Marianne Reap, executive director of the Partners in Education Foundation. “The funds will allow for coverage of behavioral health services for students including support of a therapy dog this summer.”
The grant will fund three social workers and a therapy dog who will provide behavioral health services during the second session of 2023 and the first session of 2024. Round Rock ISD’s therapy dogs are an additional means to support the behavioral health needs of students. When therapy dogs enter a classroom, they can help promote effective learning by alleviating students’ stress and anxiety. Therapy dogs are perhaps at their best when a student is in the midst of an emotional crisis–providing calm support and comfort.
Aligning with United Way for Greater Austin’s goal, the presence of social workers and a therapy dog will result in increased access to behavioral health care for students from low-income families.
