School-centered behavioral health programs make a real impact in rural Iowa

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Behavioral health care that was once miles down the highway is now just steps down the hallway

“When a parent says, ‘I got my little boy back,’ when their child is smiling again – that’s pretty powerful,” said Denison Community School District Superintendent Kim Buryanek.

Denison and 36 other rural Iowa school districts recently completed their first year of The Wellmark Foundation’s School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant Program.

The program was created, in part, because behavioral health conditions among children and adolescents have been on the rise in the U.S. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2021), with 1 in 5 adolescents having a behavioral health diagnosis (Sappenfield, O., et al., 2024). And in rural Iowa, care can be hours away, requiring time off work for caregivers, time away from school for students and reliable transportation. When these barriers stack up, rural Iowa students and families often go without the behavioral help they need.

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Gary McEldowney, Superintendent of the Sioux Center Community School District

Schools are the heart of rural communities and are uniquely positioned to intervene early and effectively in youth behavioral health. The Wellmark Foundation grant recognized this need and gives rural Iowa schools the flexibility to address behavioral health needs in ways that make sense for their students. The success of these school-centered behavioral health efforts reflects a broader commitment to healthier communities across Iowa, a goal shared by both The Wellmark Foundation and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

In Sioux Center, the grant made it possible to bring new support directly to students, adding the district’s first-ever school psychologist, greatly expanding the district’s capacity to provide school-based behavioral health support. McEldowney says the additional expertise has strengthened the district’s support system and deepened connections with students and families.

“This grant allows for more opportunity and options to bring quality people to our team to collectively figure out how to support not just the students, but the district as a whole,” McEldowney said. “And that residually impacts the community. What we’re doing here at the school doesn’t end at the school. What happens at the school goes out and can be impactful in their homes and our communities."

Early intervention can be life-changing

Research shows that 50 percent of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75 percent show up by age 24 (NAMI Northern Virginia, n.d.). Early intervention and access can truly be life-changing for a student in crisis, helping young people address challenges before they become larger barriers to learning and well-being.

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Amy Whittington, PK-6 Principal of the Central Decatur Community School District

“We know that kids who get therapy early on and develop skills – coping skills, self-regulation skills, whatever it might be – they do better long term,” said Amy Whittington, PK-6 Principal, Central Decatur Community School District, based in Leon, Iowa. “And, ultimately, our whole community benefits. Many of our students, when they graduate from Central Decatur, they stay in this area, so we’re making our community stronger by that early investment in supports for students.”

At Central Decatur, where seeing a behavioral health provider can sometimes take upwards of six months, students can now have a concern identified, a plan in place and have their first appointment within two weeks thanks to in-school telehealth services activated by The Wellmark Foundation’s grant funding.

“Students were seeing that provider early on in the fall, and that had a huge impact on their whole second semester,” Whittington said. “Academically, students did better on testing. Students were better adjusted in the classroom, and we had fewer disruptions. So, being able to start as soon as there was an issue or concern made a big difference.”

That school-centered connection not only addresses barriers of transportation, distance or time away from class, it also allows students to take their skills directly from their session right back into the classroom.

Creating lasting change — together

The Denison Community School District chose to use The Wellmark Foundation grant funding to bring licensed therapists directly into their buildings, creating easier access to care during the school day. Teachers and staff often report seeing improvements in student behavior, academic performance and school culture. But the impact doesn’t begin and end at the school doors – it can be felt at home and in the community as well.

“If you think about the child who now has those coping skills, they’re going to grow up to be an adult in the community that is successful. It’s life changing. And it’s going to have a positive impact on families, on children and on communities,” said Buryanek.

For communities like Denison, the significance of The Wellmark Foundation’s investment reaches far beyond a single school year.

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Kim Buryanek, Superintendent of the Denison Community School District

“This truly is a multigenerational impact that The Wellmark Foundation is having on communities,” Buryanek said. “Not only is the child who’s sitting in the classroom benefiting, but also the families are as well.”

A multi-year investment with statewide impact

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The School-Centered Behavioral Health Grant expanded access to behavioral health services across Iowa, supporting 37 school districts, 105 school buildings and more than 33,400 students in its first year.

In its first year, The Wellmark Foundation’s multi-year grant program supported services at 37 school districts and 105 school buildings across Iowa, expanding access to behavioral health services for more than 33,400 students.

As districts begin the next school year, leaders expect even more success. With relationships already established and growing awareness among families, more students are likely to seek support earlier. What began as an effort to expand access to behavioral health services is now becoming an integral part of how these rural schools support student well-being.

As part of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s long-standing commitment to improve the health of Iowa communities, the impact of this work will continue to extend beyond the classroom, helping students, families and communities thrive for years to come.