Olentangy wellness program wins national accreditation; district says move will help attract funding

Dr. Alicia Barren told the Olentangy Local School District board on May 20 that the district’s wellness department earned national accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA) after a rigorous review that evaluated hundreds of standards.

Barren said the accreditation process — which began in 2025 and included a three‑day on‑site review in April — examined case management, crisis management, mental‑health treatment, coaching, prevention services and organizational practices such as human resources and financial management. Reviewers met with central office staff, school counselors, principals, teachers, parents and students; the district was granted accreditation outright with no plan of correction.

Superintendent Todd Meyer and board members called the award "another building block to build trust" and said the accreditation underscores the district’s approach to embedding mental‑health services within the educational program. Barren said the accreditation should enhance the district’s credibility "to provide high‑quality and compliant mental‑health services" and could improve prospects for grants and external funding.

Board members used the presentation to encourage continued public communication about available services and to counter misunderstandings about the purpose and scope of school‑based behavioral health supports. The board discussed how accreditation can reassure families that services meet national standards while preserving student safety and staff oversight.