SUMMARY - On March 28, Chief Clinical Officer Hani Talebi, PhD, provided invited testimony before the House Committee on Human Services in support of...
October 30, 2026 – Student mental health remains a growing priority in Texas. In 2022, two million of 5.2 million Texas youth (ages 6-17) – 35% of the youth population – had a mental health need.
In partnership with the H.E. Butt Foundation, TASBO, and 21 other contributors, the Meadows Institute sought to address this need by developing the Safe and Supported Texas Schools Blueprint. The blueprint serves to build capacity in school districts to scale and sustain services that support students’ mental health.
To create the blueprint, Meadows Institute experts drew from relevant research and combined experience to create a resource that helps districts review the landscape of student support services and align funding for a return on investment to increase average daily attendance, academic performance, college/career readiness and teacher retention following a sustained approach.
The blueprint is designed to support districts regardless of size, location, or available resources. It is intended for superintendents, CFOs, school board members, and other academic leaders to use as an essential mapping tool in their district’s toolbox to achieve success.
This blueprint outlines ways districts can analyze data, navigate funding, and evaluate existing programs and resources to build safer and healthier pathways for students. By prioritizing student mental health early, harmful disciplinary measures later down the line can be avoided, and taxpayer dollars can be saved. In fact, every $1 invested in school-based supports saves taxpayers $7 in incarceration and criminal justice intervention.
Wellness and safety create the foundation for strong, supportive, resilient school communities when psychological and physical safety are prioritized. Through proactive systems of care and support, schools can create environments where challenges are identified and addressed early, and everyone has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
View blueprint here.
View the executive summary here.
Additional resources for this initiative can be found here.
