2025 Annual Report

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL

As the mental health crisis continues across the country, children and teens are in greater need of mental health services than ever before. In many cases, the first person to recognize the child’s need is a teacher. But the teacher may not always know how to help. That’s why Children’s of Alabama recently expanded one of its mental health programs to offer training for school personnel. The program, Pediatric Access to Telemental Health Services (PATHS) , has been around since 2019. Children’s established it—with support and funding from the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH)—in response to the need for more mental health services, especially in rural areas. The initial goal was to help primary care providers understand how to help patients who present with mental health concerns. Through the program, Children’s mental health professionals offer consults or education for providers or even telehealth appointments for their patients. PATHS has since expanded into urban areas, and now, thanks to the extension of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, Children’s is offering support to school systems across the state. “This is an important step for our program,” PATHS director Margo Harwell, LICSW, PIP, said. “Because they see students daily, school personnel play a critical role in identifying early signs of mental health concerns in students.”

“Because they see students daily, school personnel play a critical role in identifying early signs of mental health concerns in students.”

MARGO HARWELL, LICSW, PIP

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2025 ACADEMIC ANNUAL REPORT