UVALDE, Texas — Uvalde CISD has always had mental professionals on campus. Since the tragedy, they’ve gotten even more resources to assist families. 

Heartbreak still lingers in Uvalde, but the healing is happening.

“We’re using this space for students,” said Niki Henderson, UCISD’s director of recovery services. “We do individual counseling, small group counseling in here. But we do offer at times opportunities for parents to come in as well.”

The Uvalde CISD’s counseling center is a welcoming space for Henderson. In 2015, she was the district’s only licensed mental health professional.

“The year after I came on board, we added two more to our team,” said Henderson. “And we’ve expanded to a counseling team of six  — that’s licensed professional counselors and social workers, in addition to our 15 school counselors.” 

Now, she’s the director of recovery services, overseeing the district’s counseling department.

“We are uniquely equipped within the school setting to provide mental health services to students because we are with them so often during the day,” she said. “Our teachers a lot of times spend more time with students than their own families do.”

The tragedy at Robb Elementary in 2022 highlighted the need for more mental health resources in Uvalde.

“We have seen an increase in the need for support, different types of support,” said Henderson. “We just feel very blessed that we’ve been able to enhance our counseling services, and the variety of services that we have to offer students.”

Students have access to an app called Rithm on their district-issued iPads. It prompts daily check-ins of how they’re feeling and conveys instant responses if they’re struggling.

“They check in by selecting an emoji face that matches the emotion they’re experiencing in the moment,” said Henderson. “That feedback is given to teachers.”

The fourth-graders at the time of the shooting are now sixth-graders at Flores Elementary, where district staff is being trained in youth mental health first aid.

“Family members and caregivers play a crucial role in supporting a youth with suicidal thoughts,” said Henderson.

According to the University of Wisconsin’s County Health Rankings, in Uvalde County there is one mental health provider per 1,300 people. And 25% of residents under 65 go without health insurance. 

“For a rural community in particular, we have been really lucky to have the amount of support and mental health services available,” said Henderson.  

The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas also offers Uvalde families counseling services at no cost. Henderson is thankful for district partners that provide these wrap around services for students, like community in schools, who have placed five clinicians on campuses. 

“They have just done a wonderful job of offering their support,” said Henderson. “Which, of course, then, in turn, benefits our students and our staff.”