Support Beyond the Classroom: Riverside Brings Mental Health Support to Schools

Riverside Healthcare has partnered with local school districts to bring professional mental health support directly to students. A licensed clinician visits participating schools to provide individual and group therapy during the school day—making care more accessible, timely, and consistent. 

This school-based model helps students develop healthy coping skills, stay engaged in the classroom, and build confidence in managing life’s challenges. It also removes common barriers to care such as transportation, scheduling, and stigma.

Riverside Behavioral Health programs are built to support individuals and families through a full continuum of care. The school liaison program extends this mission by offering early, hands-on support right where students are—at school.

“We all know in this thing called life, there are mountains before us,” says Marla Barnard, Riverside’s school liaison clinician. “People who are successful at climbing mountains use the right tools and equipment. We can do hard things, but sometimes we need help believing—and we need to be shown what to do.”

The program is supported by a multidisciplinary team including licensed clinicians, registered nurses, board-certified psychiatrists, and licensed educators.

Click here to learn more about mental health services available at Riverside.

Interested in hearing more about the Riverside School Liaison Program? Click here as Barnard goes into more detail on Riverside Healthcare's unique partnership with local schools in Riverside Healthcare's podcast series 'Well Within Reach'.