Virginia Beach City Public Schools outlines student mental-health resources for families

An online Family Connection session hosted by Virginia Beach City Public Schools detailed the district’s mental-health supports for students and families and explained how to access them.

The session opened with Joyce Hawkins, a family outreach representative in the district’s Office of Family and Community Engagement, who introduced the district’s coordinator of school counseling services and framed the presentation as a walkthrough of local and national partners offering crisis care, short-term therapy and longer-term supports.

The presenter said mental health is the foundation for managing stress, building relationships and supporting students’ learning and noted signs that may indicate a need for extra support, including persistent worry, trouble with school work and social withdrawal.

For immediate crisis help, the session described the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline as a free, confidential, 24/7 service that connects callers and texters to trained professionals who listen, provide support and link people to further resources. Care Solace was presented as a free navigation service that searches for appropriate mental-health providers, checks insurance and typically helps schedule appointments; the presenter said families can often be connected to a provider within two to three weeks and that a care companion follows up after intake.

The district described a grant-funded digital platform for students in grades 6–12 (named in the session as 'You Will') that includes a provider-matching tool, a 24/7 help line and a library of relaxation and wellness videos; presenters said students can sometimes book appointments within 24 hours with parental approval.

For on-site support, the district outlined a Brief Counseling program through Child and Youth Behavioral Health that places short-term therapy in elementary schools and selected secondary sites. Sessions are private and held at school; families are responsible for payment through their health insurance or by arranging a payment plan with the Child and Youth Behavioral Health team.

The Behavioral Health Rapid Response Program was described as a no-cost screening and assessment process for elementary students conducted at school; clinicians consult with families and school staff and provide recommendations or referrals to community resources. The presenter said the full referral-to-review timeline can take up to three weeks.

The session named a partner 'Katy' that provides free short-term individual and group therapy for students in grades 6–12 as a bridge to longer-term care; families are typically contacted about intake within 48–72 hours after referral. The Harbor Hope Center was described as a free program for high-school students in recovery that combines academic support with recovery services and serves students across Virginia Beach and nearby cities; the presenter provided a program website for admissions information.

Presenters repeatedly directed families to the district’s mental-health landing page and on-screen QR codes for links and forms to begin referrals. Attendees were asked to complete a feedback form to help the district plan future sessions.

The session included a transcript reference to 'Hair stylist services' being available for VPK students; that phrasing appears inconsistent with the session’s focus and likely reflects a transcription error. Families seeking clarification were instructed to consult the district’s mental-health webpage or contact their student’s school.

The session closed with thanks to the presenter and reminders about where to find videos and how to contact school counselors, assistant principals or principals to begin referral processes.