Legacy Highlights the Importance of School-Based Health Care and Mental Health Support

Schools play a critical role in shaping students’ mental and physical well-being. At Legacy Community Health, we understand that our School-Based Health Care Clinics are a vital part of our mission of connecting communities to quality medical care, making it easier for families to access care without sacrificing time, education, or resources.

Mental health concerns among students have reached alarming levels. Anxiety, depression, and self-harm are on the rise, especially among middle school girls. In addition, it is necessary to note that even younger children, as early as fourth grade, are exhibiting signs of self-harm. During school breaks and holidays, this situation worsens, with children losing access to structured support systems, such as on-campus counseling and safe spaces.

During these periods, the challenges deepen due to financial stress, isolation, and unresolved family conflicts. Families facing economic hardships are particularly vulnerable, creating an environment where depression, anxiety, and domestic violence escalate. At Legacy, we provide resources and proactive engagement to help families navigate these challenging times.

In many minority communities, there’s also a misconception that mental health struggles like self-harm are not a serious concern for their culture or community. This misunderstanding can prevent families—primarily minority and immigrant families—from seeking the support they need. Additionally, self-harm is often incorrectly perceived as an issue exclusive to girls when, in fact, it affects students of all genders and ages. Breaking down these stigmas ensures that every child can access compassionate care.

Our Professional services Help Students and Families

Legacy’s school-based clinics address the unique needs of students and their families, providing a range of physical and mental health services.

Pilar Valenzuela Silva, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at Legacy Community Health, shared insights about the services provided. “I like to work with children and their parents simultaneously. It’s important for parents to be involved in their child’s education. At Legacy, we have a program in the school clinics at Galena Park and KIPP schools where providers can check the children’s physical health, but some psychiatrists and therapists can help children there on-site. Obviously, we have the parents’ consent beforehand. The point is: we facilitate access to children’s physical and mental health.”

Therapists at Legacy also emphasize the importance of tailoring services to each child’s needs. Vivian Echevarria Guzman, a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) and National Certified Counselor (NCC), highlighted that “Legacy accepts referrals from school counselors. Parents can ask the school counselors to provide that referral. At Legacy, therapists are licensed professionals. We work with children to identify their stressors, whether from academics, social life, or family situations. Once we identify the problem, we confer with psychiatrists to determine if the child needs further medical help or assistance. Sometimes, we offer therapeutic services inside schools, with weekly therapy sessions. These sessions can be individual, group, or sometimes we invite the family if needed.”

We Team Up with You to Help Your Child

Legacy therapists work closely with families to teach strategies that help children cope with new information. Guzman emphasizes that as therapists, “our job is to teach children and families strategies to adapt to life changes so those changes don’t overwhelm them. We realize that important conversations are often not held at home, and external influences lead children or teenagers to make negative decisions. Many times, we see emotional abandonment.”

Parents and educators can take proactive steps to support children’s mental health by:

• Recognizing the signs: Look for changes in behavior, mood, or academic performance that could indicate stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Talking openly about mental health: Create a safe environment for children to express their feelings without fear of judgment.
• Seeking professional support: School counselors and Legacy’s licensed therapists are available to provide care and guidance.

Being proactive and involved is the first step to supporting your child’s mental health. Valenzuela Silva highlighted this as key: “It’s important for parents to be involved in their child’s education.”

Accessing Affordable and Convenient Care

Legacy Community Health ensures that care is accessible and affordable for all families. We accept most insurance plans, including CHIP, Medicaid, and Medicare, and offer a sliding-scale fee structure to reduce financial barriers. Our eligibility teams also work to connect families with additional resources to ease financial stress further.

With a trajectory encompassing 40 years in the health care field, we proudly serve the community through 37 school-based clinics and 57 clinics in the central neighborhoods in Houston. Families can start their journey to better health by visiting Legacy’s school-based clinics or one of our standalone clinics that offer flexible hours and both in-person and virtual visits.

Contact Legacy for Support

If you know of a child or family in need, Legacy Community Health is here to help. With our compassionate, comprehensive care, we’re building healthier communities every day in every way. Contact us at (832) 548-5000 or visit LegacyCommunityHealth.org to learn more. Watch Pilar and Vivian’s Que Onda interview here.

Together, we can create a brighter, healthier future for our children by addressing mental and physical health challenges in schools. We are providing accessible, compassionate, and comprehensive care with the ultimate goal of building healthier communities every day, in every way.