How school-based mental health treatment became the norm in Minnesota

Rogers, a mental health specialist tasked with providing mental health care to students in six of the district’s schools, is patient. Mark Sander, Hennepin County director of school mental health, has been involved in the effort since the beginning. “Half of the students that are supported by school-based mental health in Hennepin County have never had mental health services before,” he said. “School-based mental health services look very different in St. Paul and Minneapolis vs. in rural Minnesota,” she said. These are all ideas focused on mental health, and these are all ideas they generated.”Back at Heritage STEM Academy, Rogers’ approach to mental health treatment also feels student-led.