Hazel Health

Jennie Berkovich

School-based healthcare is revolutionizing pediatric care by addressing physical and mental health needs in a familiar and accessible environment—our schools. Conditions like asthma and diabetes often coexist with anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of treating the whole child rather than isolated symptoms. By integrating healthcare into schools, mainly through telehealth, we can dismantle common barriers to care, ensuring children receive the support they need when and where they need it.

Currently, nearly 20 percent of U.S. children grapple with mental health challenges, yet fewer than half receive treatment. Cost, transportation, and stigma often prevent families from seeking care, while physical health issues further disrupt learning. School-based healthcare bridges these gaps, offering high-quality care to children regardless of their background, insurance status, or geographic location.

“By transforming schools into the most accessible front door for pediatric healthcare, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive— academically, physically, and emotionally”

Hazel Health exemplifies the impact of this model. Serving over 5 million students—including those in half of the 20 largest U.S. school districts—Hazel ensures that every child has access to medical and mental health support at no cost to families. As primary care practices work to meet the increasing demands of a population with limited access, school-based health can be a valuable member of the medical neighborhood, functioning as an extension of the medical home. By leveraging a team of medical providers in conjunction with a teletherapy offering, Hazel lowers the barrier to whole-child care for families that need it most. For many students, this is their only reliable connection to healthcare, making it a vital tool to ensure every child has access to high-quality pediatric care.

Hazel Health has recently implemented a pilot program in several Florida districts, focusing on the medical management of mental health conditions through its CARES initiative (Collaborate, Assist, Respond, Evaluate, and Stabilize). After obtaining parental consent for students to enroll in this program, Hazel therapists identify students who could benefit from medication for anxiety or depression. Hazel’s medical providers then conduct thorough intake assessments and initiate medication for students who meet the necessary clinical criteria. Given the significant challenges in accessing psychiatric services for children and adolescents in Florida, this initiative uses a whole-child approach to enhance access to critical, lifesaving, and life-altering care and medications. Hazel is testing this in several districts with the hopes of expanding the program nationally.

As the demand for pediatric mental and physical health services grows, school-based healthcare offers a proactive solution that improves individual outcomes and strengthens entire communities. This whole-child approach redefines how we deliver pediatric care. Virtual health doesn’t replace in-person visits—it enhances them, making care more accessible for all families. By transforming schools into the most accessible front door for pediatric healthcare, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive— academically, physically, and emotionally.