Frisco-based DialCare has been chosen by the Texas Center for Student Supports as an approved vendor for the Texas Stronger Connections Grant (SCG), as part of a federal initiative that seeks to help schools establish safe, healthy, and supportive opportunities and environments.
DialCare is one of five vendors—and the only Texas-based company—selected under the category “Software that Supports Students & Schools in Mental & Behavioral Health & Well-being.”
“DialCare is proud to be a resource for recipients of the Texas Stronger Connections Grant,” DialCare SVP Becca Bean said in a statement. “With the prevalence of mental health conditions among our youth and the critical need for early intervention, virtual care can be a transformative investment toward students’ well-being inside and outside the classroom.”
Funding will power Dialogue, a virtual counseling program
The company said the SCG grants were started via the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. and are disbursed by State Educational Agencies to their high-need school districts, including those that have high rates of poverty, bullying, violence, and deficiencies in mental health staffing.
Under the grant program, The Texas Education Agency received more than $93 million to support the ongoing needs of Texas students, educators, families, and communities.
“DialCare is thrilled for the opportunity to serve students in our home state through the Texas Stronger Connections Grant,” DialCare CEO Stewart Sweda said. “While others in the virtual care industry have seemingly struggled to maintain momentum post-pandemic, DialCare only continues to grow and expand the verticals in which we offer our solutions.”
A portion of the funding will be used to implement Dialogue, DialCare’s virtual student counseling program, the company said.
Designed as a resource for middle and high school students to seek a safe, secure, and private means of accessing care, Dialogue connects students virtually with mental health professionals via phone or video chat for assistance with a variety of behavioral health conditions, the company said.
Dialogue’s services are available nationwide from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. across all time zones seven days a week and at no cost to students or their families.
“The Dialogue program was created to be a resource for schools that lack the funds and staff necessary to support their students’ mental health,” said DialCare COO Jeremy Hedrick. “As these deserving districts are getting the financial support needed, Dialogue’s services provide additional support needed for their staff. By giving students the ability to virtually connect with professionals about their mental health, we aim to alleviate the burden on counselors, teachers and administrators so they can focus on academic needs.”
Other DialCare telehealth programs
Beyond the Dialogue program, DialCare said it also offers several other telehealth solutions including Physician Access, Mental Wellness, Teledentistry, and Virtual Vet.
DialCare’s telehealth programs are available to organizations of any size or industry, employees of any status, brokers, benefits consultants, and individual consumers nationwide, the company said.
DialCare offers seven comprehensive, high-demand telehealth solutions, including a Physician Access program that provides 24/7/365 access to non-emergency care from a national network of U.S.-based, fully credentialed physicians and virtual primary care for long-term care of chronic conditions with dedicated physicians; a Mental Wellness program that provides virtual counseling and psychiatry with licensed mental health professionals for mental and behavioral health care; a Teledentistry program for 24/7/365 access to consultations with licensed dentists via video or phone chat; and a Virtual Vet program that provides 24/7/365 access to guidance and information from licensed veterinary professionals.
DialCare is an affiliate of Frisco-based Careington International Corp. Last year, the company expanded its telehealth programs to include virtual primary care and psychiatry, connecting individuals virtually to board-certified primary care physicians and psychiatrists across the nation.
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