School-Based Mental Health Pilot Sees Early Success

A mental health pilot program in five Sioux Falls schools has served more than 125 students since it began in late 2025.

The three-year pilot program, funded by the Seed for Success Foundation, a supporting organization of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, provides on-site mental health therapists at five public schools.

"We are privileged to help expand mental health access to students across Sioux Falls," said Marianne Von Seggern, board president for the Seed for Success Foundation. "Our young people need support, and one way to do that is to make it easier for them to talk to someone when they need help."

In its first year, the Rooted in Schools program embedded licensed therapists as part of the school community, making it more convenient for students to receive one-on-one counseling with less interruption to their school day. The program is administered by Avera Behavioral Health, in partnership with the Sioux Falls School District.

Therapists see about 25 students a week at each of the five schools - Washington High School, Whittier Middle School and Cleveland, Terry Redlin and Rosa Parks elementary schools. Some schools have a waitlist for services. Early data shows improved attendance and a decrease in disruptive behaviors for students in the program.

Superintendent Jamie Nold of the Sioux Falls School District said the program complements services the district offers.

"Students and their families place a great deal of trust in our schools. By offering mental health therapy in a familiar, supportive environment, Rooted in Schools therapists help students build resilience and succeed both academically and socially," said Nold. "We've already seen a 14% increase in attendance among students participating in the program. This is an encouraging sign that we're moving in the right direction."

Seed for Success is committed to investing locally in mental health support for young people. In partnership with the school district, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation helped identify gaps in services and worked with the District to explore where philanthropic investment could have the greatest impact - leading to the development of this pilot program.

"We're proud to work alongside our donors to help them find meaningful opportunities where their support can truly make a difference," said Mary Kolsrud, chief philanthropy officer with the Community Foundation. "This pilot is a great example of what that can look like when the right partners come together."

Thomas Otten, Avera Vice President of Behavioral Health, said the goal is to strengthen students' mental health, enhance their ability to learn and provide early intervention to prevent crises.

"Students can't reach their full potential if access, time and resources are a barrier to behavioral health care," Otten said. "When schools prioritize mental health support, they're not just helping students cope, they're giving them the foundation to learn and thrive. We are honored to offer this service and to partner with the Sioux Falls Public Schools and generous donors."

Students need a teacher's recommendation and parent or guardian permission to participate. The district and Avera are collecting data on school attendance and mental health outcomes to gauge the success of the program.

Therapy services are billed through insurance, and costs for uninsured students are covered as part of the Seed for Success Foundation.

ABOUT THE SEED FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION: The Seed for Success Foundation is dedicated to supporting initiatives that open doors for young people to achieve success. The Seed for Success Foundation is a 501(c)(3) supporting organization of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

ABOUT THE SIOUX FALLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: In partnership with donors, we provide trusted leadership that inspires philanthropy, and enriches the quality of life in our area - for good, forever. Founded in 1984, we are a 501(c)(3) public charity. Today, we manage more than 1,000 charitable funds, serving as the trusted stewards for more than $390 million in charitable assets.