New York City will make available social, emotional, and academic behavioral projections for K-12 public school students in the communities most affected by Covid-19, city officials announced Monday.
The initiative will start in 27 communities that have been identified as suffering the highest case and mortality rates since the pandemic began. The city will also hire an additional 150 social workers and add a community school to each of the 27 neighborhoods. This first phase will serve approximately 380,000 students in approximately 830 schools, according to a press release from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office.
Chirlane McCray, Blasio’s wife, led the initiative and described the additional tests as “extended health review for students.”
“All New York City students will bring this last year’s experience in a different way,” McCray said, adding that no notes or labels will be used in the screenings. The goal will be to help adults provide the best mental health support to students who need it, ”McCray said.
New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said the initiative will allow officials to assess the overall well-being of students and develop personalized care for them, with the consent of their tutors.
The effort will also involve expanding the school system’s partnership with the city’s health care providers to provide direct mental health resources to students, Carranza said.