Arkansas Taps Private Partner for Statewide School Mental Health Overhaul

CARDIFF, CA – December 08, 2025 – In a significant strategic move to combat the escalating youth mental health crisis, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has launched a statewide partnership with social purpose organization Care Solace. The collaboration provides every student, school staff member, and their families across all Arkansas school districts with access to mental health care coordination services, completely free of charge. This initiative marks one of the most comprehensive public-private efforts in the nation to build a resilient mental wellness infrastructure within an entire state's education system.

Addressing a System Under Strain

The partnership arrives at a critical juncture for Arkansas. The state has been grappling with alarming trends in youth mental health, with data from 2016 to 2020 ranking it third-highest in the nation for childhood depression and anxiety. A 2021 CDC study further underscored the issue, revealing that 42% of Arkansas high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. These statistics reflect a reality that educators and families face daily.

While Arkansas has made legislative strides, including the Arkansas LEARNS Act, to mandate and integrate mental health support in schools, the system has been under immense pressure. Key challenges have persisted, including a significant shortage of licensed school psychologists and social workers, particularly in rural areas where access to care is already limited. School counselors and psychologists in the state often support far more students than recommended ratios, and teachers frequently find themselves on the front lines of student mental health crises without sufficient training or resources.

This new initiative is designed to directly address these systemic bottlenecks. It isn't about replacing existing school-based mental health personnel but augmenting their capacity by offloading one of the most time-consuming tasks: navigating the complex and often fragmented landscape of external care providers.

A New Model for Care Coordination

At the heart of this partnership is Care Solace's unique service model. The organization functions as a centralized care coordination hub, simplifying the process of finding and accessing mental health care and substance use treatment. Rather than providing therapy directly, Care Solace employs a team of multilingual "Care Companions" available 24/7, 365 days a year.

When a student, staff member, or family member needs support, they can connect with the service to find a provider that matches their specific needs, insurance coverage, and personal preferences. The Care Companions handle the logistics of finding available, vetted professionals within a network of over 700,000 providers, scheduling appointments, and following up to ensure a connection is made. This human-centered, technology-supported approach is designed to calm the chaos often associated with seeking help.

"We are honored to partner with the Arkansas Department of Education in this statewide effort to strengthen mental health support for students, staff, and their families," said Chad Castruita, Founder & CEO of Care Solace. "Together, we can ensure every school community in Arkansas has access to compassionate, reliable care coordination. We look forward to helping students and families find hope, healing, and stability through improved access to care."

The Strategic Synergy of Public and Private Sectors

This collaboration exemplifies a powerful strategic shift in how public entities can address widespread social challenges. By partnering with a specialized private organization, the ADE is leveraging external expertise and infrastructure to achieve a scale and efficiency that would be difficult to build internally from the ground up. The state provides the mandate, funding, and system-wide access, while Care Solace delivers a proven, specialized service.

This public-private synergy creates a blueprint for social impact that other states are likely to watch closely. It directly tackles the most significant barriers to care: cost, availability, and logistical complexity. For families, the 'no cost' and '24/7' access removes immediate financial and time-based hurdles. For school districts, it provides a uniform, high-quality support system that ensures equity of access, regardless of a district's size or location.

"We are thrilled to work with Care Solace as we continue to prioritize the health of students across the state," commented Jerri Clark, Director of School Health Services for the Arkansas Department of Education. "Support provided through this partnership empowers educators and families to address core issues and build safe, supportive environments for every student."

Bolstering the Front Lines of Education

Crucially, the implementation of Care Solace is intended to integrate with and bolster the state's existing infrastructure, not replace it. Local community mental health centers and school-based therapists remain vital components of the care ecosystem. The partnership's primary function is to serve as the connective tissue, streamlining referrals and ensuring that the demand for services is channeled effectively to available providers.

This is expected to have a transformative impact on school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. Freed from the administrative burden of making calls, verifying insurance, and tracking down appointments, these professionals can dedicate more of their time to direct student intervention, crisis management, and proactive wellness programming within their schools. The platform also provides the ADE with invaluable, anonymized data on mental health trends and needs, allowing for more informed strategic planning and resource allocation in the future.

As Arkansas rolls out this ambitious program, it represents a profound investment in the well-being of its future generation. The success of this statewide model could redefine the role of education departments in the mental health landscape, proving that by forging strategic partnerships, it is possible to build a comprehensive and accessible safety net for every child and educator.