To assist with supporting students' mental health needs by reducing barriers and increasing student access to social, emotional, and mental health services and supports

Fitzpatrick, A. L. School

Anderson, Add B. School

Locke, Alain School

Greenfield, Albert M. Scihool

Adaire, Alexander School

Stearne, Allen M. School

Hamilton, Andrew School

Morrison, Andrew J. School

Day, Anna B. School

Lingelbach, Anna L. School

Harrington, Avery D. School

Bache-Martin School

Comegys, Benjamin B. School

Franklin, Benjamin K8 School

Bridesburg School

Henry, Charles W. School

Arthur, Chester A. School

Cook-Wissahickon School

Fell, D. Newlin School

McDaniel, Delaplaine School

Allen, Dr. Ethel School

Rhodes, E. Washington Elementary School

Gideon, Edward School

Heston, Edward School

Steel, Edward T. School

Stanton, Edwin M. School

Kirkbride, Eliza B. School

Allen, Ethan School

Bregy, F. Amedee School

Jackson Coppin, Fanny School

Fitler Academics Plus School

Hopkinson, Francis School

Edmonds, Franklin S. School

McCall, General George A. School

Meade, General George G. School

Kearny, General Philip School

Childs, George W. School

Nebinger, George W. School

Sharswood, George W. School

Spruance, Gilbert School

Disston, Hamilton School

Brown, Henry A. School

Lea, Henry C. School

Houston, Henry H. School

Munoz-Marin, Honorable Luis School

Dobson, James School

Blaine, James G. School

Ludlow, James R. School

Rhoads, James School

Cooke, Jay School

Jenks Academy for Arts and Sciences

Barry, John Elementary School

Hartranft, John F. School

McCloskey, John F. School

Taggart, John H. School

John Hancock Demonstration School

Welsh, John School

Greenberg, Joseph School

Brown, Joseph H. School

De Burgos, Julia School

Juniata Park Academy

Kenderton Elementary School

Waring, Laura W. School

Cassidy, Lewis C. Academics Plus School

Farrell, Louis H. School

Washington, Martha School

Bethune, Mary M. School

Mayfair School

McMichael, Morton School

Northeast Community Propel Academy

Olney School

Overbrook Educational Center

Overbrook Elementary School

Dunbar, Paul L. School

Penrose School

Potter-Thomas School

Pollock, Robert B. School

Lamberton, Robert E. School

Morris, Robert School

Blankenburg, Rudolph School

Mitchell, S. Weir Elementary School

Penn Alexander School

Gompers, Samuel School

Pennypacker, Samuel School

Shawmont School

Southwark School

Spring Garden School

Decatur, Stephen School

Duckrey, Tanner G. School

Roosevelt Elementary School

Holme, Thomas School

Finletter, Thomas K. School

Mifflin, Thomas School

Marshall, Thurgood School

Vare-Washington School

Bryant, William C. School

Longstreth, William C. School

Kelley, William D. School

Dick, William School

Hunter, William H. School

Ziegler, William H. School

Meredith, William M. School

McKinley, William School

Kooth USA, LLC (Kooth) is an international leader in providing online youth mental health support for students in grades 6 through 12. In partnering with Kooth, School District of Philadelphia (District) students will gain access to an online mental health community that they will be able to utilize when they are in and out of school. This support is intended to enhance existing mental health services. The District has the opportunity to be one of the few pilot programs in Pennsylvania.  

Students will have access to three types of support via the platform:  (1) therapeutic content and activities that they can utilize as needed (for example, articles, daily journal, resources on specific mental health topics); (2) peer support via discussion boards, which is an anonymous space where students are able to share their thoughts and feelings with other students, which can be in the form of a question, poetry, or an essay; and to ensure each student’s safety, Kooth representatives monitor the discussion boards and will  follow District protocol if content is identified; and (3) students can access Pennsylvania-licensed counselors for professional support using the messaging service and live-chat features that are available on the online platform. 

The service is valued at $1.8 million dollars.  We are receiving this service as an in-kind donation as part of the state's program.  

As the mental health needs of youth grow, it is imperative that resources are provided that meet their needs, are accessible, and are youth-centered. To ensure that this service would support students’ needs that are identified in the Board of Education’s Guardrail, such as spaces with inclusive climates that provide students with access to robust social, emotional and mental health supports, a group of District students met with representatives from Kooth and learned about the service and posed questions to the Kooth representatives. Student involvement is important to Kooth and implementation will include a student advisory council to assist with implementation and provide ongoing feedback regarding service.  

Kooth will provide the District insight and pulse reports which will provide additional information on the mental health landscape about our students. This includes information on topics such as sleep difficulties, suicidal thoughts, issues with relationships and school. By partnering with Kooth, we expect that (1) students will report an increased ability to access mental health support, (2) students who utilize Kooth will report a meaningful experience and would utilize again, and (3) platform utilization data will show increase in utilization over the school year.