Educational Service District 105 Announces Innovative Partnership With Astria Medical To Enhance Mental Healthcare Services For Students - 09/21/23

[Yakima, Washington] – Educational Service District 105 (ESD 105) is pleased to announce an innovative partnership with Astria Medical, a leading healthcare provider, aimed at furthering mental healthcare accessibility for students across the south central region of Washington State.
 

This new partnership allows ESD 105-employed mental healthcare clinicians to connect students with a licensed doctor at Astria who can prescribe necessary medication for mental health diagnoses, including ADHD, anxiety, and depression, to eligible students. Students across eight participating schools/districts under our service now have access to this essential mental health support, with three more districts anticipated to begin offering these services soon. 

The list of participating schools includes,  

• Franklin, Wilson, Lewis & Clark and Washington Middle Schools (Yakima Public Schools)
• Grandview Middle School
• Granger Middle School
• Naches Valley Middle & High Schools
• Highland Middle & High Schools
• Ellensburg High School
• Mabton High School
• Selah High School
• Mount Adams School District
• Schools that will soon benefit from these enhanced services include Wapato and Toppenish Middle Schools and Union Gap School. 

"Enhancing mental healthcare access for students is a top priority for ESD 105, and our partnership with Astria exemplifies our commitment to this crucial mission," stated Kevin Chase, Superintendent of Educational Service District 105. "By collaborating with Astria, we can offer comprehensive care to students facing mental health challenges, ensuring their well-being and educational success."
 

This strategic collaboration with Astria underscores ESD 105's dedication to providing mental health solutions for students, integrating comprehensive support to meet their behavioral health needs into their educational experience. "We are excited about this collaboration with Astria Medical to address the mental health needs of all students, especially those traditionally furthest from educational justice," said Emily Nelson, Executive Director of Student Support for ESD 105. "Together, we are leveraging our expertise to make a positive impact on the lives of students in the communities we serve."

You are invited to join our Student Support Team to learn more about this new service and a variety of other social-emotional, behavioral and mental health supports provided in our region at their Lunch & Learn Tour today, Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. at 401 S. 12th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902.  For members of the media who are able to join or for more information about this partnership or Educational Service District 105's initiatives: Please contact our agency's Public Relations & Marketing Department at brittany.kaple@esd105.org or call (509) 490-5520.
 

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About ESD 105:

ESD 105 supports 25 public school districts and more than 20 state-approved private and tribal schools in South Central Washington.  The agency serves the expressed needs of those schools in coordinating and conducting cooperative programs to benefit the approximately 68,000 K-12 students who are served in Kittitas and Yakima counties and portions of Grant and Klickitat counties.  As one of nine ESDs in the state, ESD 105 carries out liaison activities between local school districts, the Washington State Office of Public Instruction, and the State Board of Education.