Agenda Item
b. GaDOE Mental Health Grant Awards and Mental Health Services Provided by Cartwheel (Collectively Not to Exceed $1,040,000)
Summary: Presented by: Mrs. Ateshia Lester, Acting Chief of Schools, Division of Schools & Leadership
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb Board of Education approve the use of Cartwheel as an approved vendor to provide Mental Health Services directly to students in grades 6-12 (not to exceed $880,000) and approve the acceptance of $160,000 ($20,000 each) for 8 charter schools to provide direct services for students.
Why: Georgia's FY26 state budget established $19.6 million for student mental health services and supports. At its August 20, 2025 meeting, the State Board of Education approved state mental health grant funds for school districts on a state-defined formula of $20,000 to each middle school and high school.
DCSD would like to utilize Cartwheel to facilitate comprehensive mental health support for staff and middle and high school students. The costs to receive services from Cartwheel will not exceed $880,000, the total of the 2026 GaDOE grant award. The grant funds will provide direct services for students and accept $160,000 ($20,000 each) for 8 charter schools to provide direct mental health services for students at their individual school.
Details: This document provides relevant information about the allowable use of funds and reporting requirements for Georgia's school districts utilizing the state mental health grant funds. Cartwheel has an approved contract with the State of Georgia. eRFI 41400-DOE0000094
https://login.community.gadoe.org/documents/student-mental-behavioral-health-services-grant
Financial impact: There is no Financial Impact.
Contact: Mrs. Ateshia Lester, Acting Chief of Schools, Division of Schools & Leadership, 678.676.0542
Dr. Kishia Towns, Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678.676.1913
Dr. Marcia Oglesby, Director of Grants & Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, 678.676.0375
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Supporting the mental health
and academic success of
DeKalb students
Board of Education Meeting
August 2026
www.cartwheel.org
Juliana Chen, MD
Chief Medical Officer - Cartwheel Care
● Board-certified child and adolescent
psychiatrist, licensed in Georgia
● Over 15 years working with students and
families
● Faculty at Harvard Medical School
● Testified in Georgia House on mental
health’s connection to student
absenteeism
Dr. Chen is passionate about promoting
resiliency and overall wellness in children. Her
clinical skills and experience span many
contexts, including school- and family-based
interventions.
30+
Districts served in Georgia
Who we are
Cartwheel is the 92%
leading partner for Our students improve in
schools on mental mental health outcomes
health, attendance,
and behavior 96%
School staff recommend
Cartwheel to a peer
3
For students For schools
Evidence-based telehealth Wraparound supports for
for students and families your families & staff
Direct referrals from the school: ● Family support: Care coordination for
● 11 evidence-based therapy 312 every family referred for services
● 11 parent guidance PreK12 ● School support: Clinical consultation as
needed and care team collaboration
Cartwheel internal referrals: throughout care
● Medication management ● Support with traumatic events
● Psychiatric evaluations
● Skill-building community webinars
● Family therapy
● Data platform: Portal to refer students,
● Intensive Outpatient partnerships
track progress, and assess outcomes 4
A partnership aligned to the strategic
goals of Dekalb County School District
Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3
District mission Student Academic School, Family & Recruit, Develop &
Success with Equity Community Retain Talent
Promote the and Access Engagement
academic, social,
and emotional
growth of each
student by Goal 4 Goal 5 Goal 6
fostering a safe, Culture & Climate Mental Health & Organizational
Wellness Excellence
supportive, and
engaging learning
environment
Cartwheel directly advances all six goals
5
Organizational Excellence DeKalb Goal 6
Mental health support that drives district outcomes
We are already laying a strong foundation in support of District goals. With continued partnership, DeKalb can expect
operational impact in line with the gains other Cartwheel partner districts have realized.
62% 84%
fewer student absences fewer behavioral incidents
From 16 → 6 absences per student per year — recovering 5.3 → 0.9 incidents per student per year — freeing administrator
instructional days and the attendance-based funding tied to and staff time for core operations.
them.
Comparison students who did not receive Cartwheel saw no comparable improvement — these gains reflect the program
itself, not a district-wide trend.
Illustrative results from Cartwheel partner districts — not DeKalb’s own data; each cohort compared before vs. after starting Cartwheel telehealth. Absences: Peoria Public Schools (13,000-student urban, 75% FRL), n=141
referred students, SY 2022–25. Behavioral incidents: Acton-Boxborough School District (5,000-student suburban, 12% low income), among the 72 of 594 referred students with documented incidents, SY 2022–26.
Case Study: 62% reduction in
absences per student for students
“Over the past
receiving Cartwheel telehealth
two years,
Absences per student before and after Cartwheel services Cartwheel has
become an
16 indispensable
Absences per pupil
partner in
addressing
absenteeism.ˮ
6
Absences per pupil Peoria Public Schools
Comparison group:
Before Cartwheel After Cartwheel
Students who did not receive
Sample size: n=141 students who engaged in Cartwheel telehealth services in a 13,000 student urban district 75% free/reduced lunch) Cartwheel services did not see
during the 202223, 202324, and 202425 school years. First bar shows the average number of absences per pupil in the year they were
referred for services. For the same cohort, the second bar shows the average number of absences per pupil in following years.
improved attendance
7
Case Study: 84% reduction in
behavioral incidents, increasing
instructional time per student “We have seen
Behavioral incidents per student per year before/after Cartwheel firsthand how
Cartwheelʼs
5.3 model can
Incidents per pupil
transform student
outcomesˮ
Acton-Boxborough
School District
0.9
Incidents per pupil
Comparison group:
Before Cartwheel After Cartwheel
Students who did not receive
Sample size: n=594 students who were referred to Cartwheel telehealth services in a 5,000 student suburban district 12% low income) Cartwheel services did not see
during the 202223, 202324, 202425, and 202526 school years. Of these students, 72 committed behavioral incidents and attended
sessions with Cartwheel. First bar shows the average # of incidents per year before starting treatment with Cartwheel for the 72 fewer incidents per year
students. For the same cohort, the second bar shows the average # of incidents per year after starting services with Cartwheel. Incident
defined a code of conduct violation requiring documented administrative response, such as bullying or physical aggression. 8
Student Academic Success with Equity and Access DeKalb Goal 1
Cartwheel increases access to care
74% 34% How DeKalb families use Cartwheel
receive care at no of students served
cost (Medicaid plan or have an IEP / 504 82% in Individual Therapy
uninsured) plan
12% in Individual Therapy + Parent Guidance
7% 15% 6% in Parent Guidance + Psychiatry
of students served in of guardians served
Languages served:
a language other in a language other
Spanish, Arabic, and American Sign Language
than English than English
School, Family, & Community Engagement DeKalb Goal 2
DeKalb families trust Cartwheel care
5× growth
in students referred since launch
— 37 (Feb 2026) to 185 (Jun 2026)
200%
increase in families raising their
hand
57
referrals to the School
Avoidance Program
Students referred, Feb–Jun 2026
Recruit, Develop & Retain Talent DeKalb Goal 3
2
We support your staff’s wellbeing, too
school faculty & staff reached
82
out confidentially for clinical
care from a Cartwheel therapist
Why it matters:
Supporting staff wellbeing strengthens DeKalb's ability to retain
talent (Goal 3) and sustain a positive culture and climate (Goal 4).
Culture and Climate DeKalb Goal 2
4
Students value their Cartwheel care
83% 80%
of students say they enjoy meeting with of students say it has been helpful to
their Cartwheel therapist meet with their therapist
Based on completed surveys by DeKalb students.
Mental Health and Wellness DeKalb Goal 5
2
DeKalb students are getting better
Minimal (0–4) Mild (5–9) Moderate (10–14) Severe (15+)
Depression · PHQ-9 (27-pt scale)
100%
First: 9
Last: 5
of students in Cartwheel
Anxiety · GAD-7 (21-pt scale)
care show clinical
First: 9
improvement
Last: 3
Scores plotted on the standard PHQ-9 / GAD-7 severity bands; lower scores reflect improvement.
Measured for participants ages 12+ and excluding parents receiving Parent Guidance.
Partnership accomplishments
and next steps for year two
Looking ahead to Year Two
Trusted, proven, and ready to grow
Seeds of success this year Where we’re headed
We’ll deepen sponsorship across every DeKalb school and keep
5× 100% expanding specialty programs that meet students where they are.
growth in referrals — 37 to 185
since launch
of students in care show clinical
improvement
Care Programs Activation Targets
Driving deeper engagement at
Currently available: the individual building level
● School Avoidance
Driving activation across more
74% 82 Coming in 2026:
● Big Behaviors, Big
buildings
receive care at no cost to their staff confidentiality in care with Feelings Sharing Cartwheel more
families a Cartwheel therapist ● Screens & Social Media broadly through family-facing
communications
The foundation is set.
Year Two is where the impact compounds — for more DeKalb students, families, and staff.
16
Thank you!
Juliana Chen
Chief Medical Officer
juliana@cartwheelcare.org
www.cartwheel.org