SAU 6 Launches Multi-Year Online Therapy Pilot, Notifies Families About Surveys

SAU 6 launched a multi-year pilot to provide school-centered online therapy and notified parents and guardians about the availability of Safe Schools surveys for students and families. The district posted the announcement Jan. 24 on the Stevens High School / SAU 6 website and said the surveys and therapy pilot are intended to help the district assess school climate and student well-being.

The notice explains that students and families will be able to take part in Safe Schools surveys designed to collect information on school climate and student welfare. The district and partner organizations will use aggregate survey results to identify needs and inform improvements in supports and services for students across the SAU 6 schools. The announcement also directed families to the district’s usual communication channels for further detail and for any opt-out procedures.

For local residents, the pilot represents a shift toward integrating telehealth into school-based services. School-centered online therapy can expand access for students who face transportation or scheduling barriers, and aggregate climate data can guide targeted interventions in counseling, safety planning, and student support programs. SAU 6 officials framed the effort as data-driven, using survey results to prioritize resources rather than to track individual students.

The decision carries policy and governance implications for the Sullivan County community. A multi-year pilot suggests the district will evaluate results over multiple school years, which could shape future budget priorities and school board decisions on mental health services. Voters and families who follow school board meetings will likely see reports or proposals that reference outcomes from the pilot and the Safe Schools surveys.

Privacy and parental choice are central concerns in local discussions about school-based data collection. The district emphasized that results will be reported in aggregate and reminded families about opt-out options. For residents who want oversight, school board meetings remain the venue for raising questions about how partner organizations will handle data, what safeguards are in place, and whether services meet standards for student safety and clinical quality.

Next steps for families include reviewing the district’s posted information and following SAU 6 communication channels for specific survey timelines and opt-out instructions. As the pilot unfolds, its findings will inform whether online therapy becomes a sustained part of student services and how Sullivan County allocates resources for school-based mental health supports.