Robust, District behavioral health Service

Althing fits this health services into a class period of about 50 minutes. In that time the students arrive, are matched with their health engagement Phrazer, instructed and underway. Within an average of 10 minutes the Assess portion is complete. While students who need additional time complete their AIRs engagements continue, other students move onto an informal general engagement.

Absolutely. Typically in the classroom there is a district staff member and Althing representative to employ the service. This supports privacy and efficiency. Via special interfaces onsite, and offsite, medical providers (psychiatrists, PAs, physicians, licensed clinical social workers, and other highly specialized staff) oversee and interact with the students through the Phrazer platform, in realtime. Following the Assessment, some students may discretely see a provider face-to-face for a brief intervention and potential referral.

AIRs employs the most vetted and accepted adolescent health engagements with the modern CITE method. The Althing service identifies and provides interventions and referrals for mental health, addiction, risky behavior, safety, stress and food insecurity among other things. The common names for the non-CITE version are: PHQ2 & PHQ9 depression screener, GAD7 anxiety measure, CRAFFT assessment and Safety assessment. Specific assessments result in a calculated score. Scoring indicates either no need for further assessment or additional assessment (may include a direct provider interaction) to confirm health status.

AIRs is a HIPAA service and the results of individual student's outcomes are not shared to the district record. There are no student district health records generated from this vital health service. Student information is not shared and can only be accessed with a valid HIPAA request. Students reporting substance or risky behaviors will not be punished or removed from sports (again, the district will not know of individual reports).

No publicly available Private Health Information record is generated. The full protection of HIPAA is established. This is critical to ensuring students and their guardians can be open, safe and protected while receiving this vital health benefit.

Yes, de-identifiable aggregate data is generated and provided to both the district and can be made available for the community. This data aids in providing insights that support planning, curriculum, funding and staffing. This data not only helps the district but also regional health services and county planning. The outcome data is invaluable to communities and their health.

The Althing Health Assessment follows strict federal and state guidelines that gives the qualified providers indication of when an intervention is required.  When indicated, a qualified provider gives a direct, personal one-on-one intervention to determine the voracity of the self reported health status and needs. Every report is provided multi-level verification. 
Students have proven open and honest to date; there is no evidence of this concern existing in practice.

There are federally established HIPAA guidelines and processes that Althing follows.  A proper HIPAA request can be made, and if eligible, the record will be provided. HIPAA requests are easy to do and are made through the Althing Clinic by website or phone requests.

It is not unusual to identify significant levels suicidal ideation and self harm, extensive moderate to severe depression and high levels substance abuse in the student population. This results in a significant need for connections with qualified health services. While there are local and county services available to engage students and staff on referrals, this can be overwhelming. Althing and its partners fill the gap, where needed, to ensure all identified need finds a qualified service... locally. Further, Althing embeds follow-up and ongoing services, and in-person staff encounters, at the district. We are here to help and support in concert with the district and local services.

With no other scalable, proven and qualified service, the alternative has been to turn away from the significant suffering of our youth. The result of ignoring the rising mental health, substance and safety crisis has been tragic. Althing wants you to know this service is within statute rights of districts and that it is a moral imperative to bring these health services to students, staff and community.

The services provided are an ACA health benefit that Althing makes available. With the insurance information of the participants there is nominal cost to the district, no cost to the students or their guardians. The entire service is reimbursable through insurance and where there are uninsured, Althing provides this service at no cost (thanks to caring sponsors). Alternately, and more commonly, there are local, state and federal grants that Althing and its partners will help districts acquire.

Starting with a simple parental notification, supported by Althing, the service underway. A secure student record to HIPAA record process is performed by Althing. The district arranges a student schedule and sets the dates for the service. Student support staff (counselors, school psychiatrists), optionally participating, are scheduled. On the morning of the health service Althing representatives arrive and setup for student arrival. From first period to shortly after noon, assessments are performed. Ongoing face-to-face and virtual interventions and referrals are provided to the end of school day. Repeat. Ongoing performance reports and aggregate data details are provided for all services in realtime. A followup report and meeting on outcomes and how to apply these for budgeting, grants and curriculum is completed. Individuals entering into health services are tracked and supported by Althing. Any ongoing guardian and student requests are addressed via Althing.