Transforming Student Mental Health through Evidence-Based Telehealth Services
Discover Cartwheel's innovative approach to addressing student mental health, offering accessible, quality, and sustainable care.
To foster mental well-being, Cartwheel aims to mitigate the student mental health crisis by proffering affordable and evidence-based telehealth services. This initiative is not just a service; it's a commitment to ensuring every student has access to the mental health support they need without the burden of waitlists.
Cartwheel has secured $20 million in Series A funding, led by Menlo Ventures, with Reach Capital also contributing, alongside previous investors General Catalyst, BoxGroup, and Able Partners. This financial infusion is poised to enable Cartwheel to extend its mental health services to hundreds of thousands of additional students across existing and new service areas and school districts.
Established in 2022, Cartwheel has swiftly earned the trust of schools as a reliable mental health partner. The founders, including Chief Medical Officer Juliana Chen, MD, a certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, perceived a profound need for robust school-community partnerships to enhance the accessibility, quality, and financial viability of mental health care, having spent decades in schools and community mental health clinics.
When a school district collaborates with Cartwheel, school counsellors can seamlessly refer students to clinical mental health services, eliminating the constraints of waitlists. Cartwheel’s dedicated team of licensed clinicians provides a spectrum of evidence-based telehealth services, encompassing individual therapy, group therapy, parent guidance, and medication support, all covered as an in-network benefit by the family’s insurance.
Cartwheel operates throughout the year, allowing students the flexibility to consult a licensed clinician either at home or at school, even during evenings, weekends, school breaks, and summers. This approach amalgamates funding from both school districts and health insurers, aiding superintendents in ensuring the enduring financial sustainability of these services, as articulated by Daniel Tartakovsky, Co-Founder and COO of Cartwheel and a former mental health policy advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General.
Cartwheel aspires for its model to serve as a prototype for districts nationwide, particularly as school budgets are strained with the cessation of federal COVID relief funds. The platform collaborates closely with school staff and families throughout the care process to guarantee that students receive the requisite support. A clinically licensed Program Manager assists school administrators with student cases, parent engagement, and staff training throughout the year. At the same time, bilingual Care Coordinators aid families with scheduling, insurance, and referrals for additional services.
Parents are not left in the lurch; they can schedule weekly guidance sessions with a licensed clinician to explore ways to support their child, even if the child is reluctant to engage in therapy. Additionally, parents can participate in educational workshops on pertinent mental health topics, such as school avoidance and social media use.
Cartwheel’s commitment to mental health goes beyond mere services; it’s about building long-term, sustainable partnerships between schools and communities. It’s about ensuring that every student, regardless of their circumstances, has the support they need to navigate life's challenges. It’s about empowering schools, parents, and communities to create a supportive environment where students can thrive mentally, emotionally, and academically.
Source: Hit Consultant.