Maddie Smith is the new school-based therapist at North Tama. She will be working with North Tama students and their families on a daily basis from an office in the North Tama PK-12 building. -- Photo Provided

North Tama is excited to announce a new partnership to provide increased supports for mental, emotional, social, and behavioral wellness. The district has entered into a partnership with Tanager Place to provide comprehensive, holistic care to students within the school environment, eliminating the need to travel out of town for these services and allowing families to better balance work responsibilities, time commitments, and transportation issues.

North Tama’s new School Based Therapist is Maddie Smith. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa holding a Master’s degree in social work. Maddie will be working with North Tama students and staff on a daily basis from an office in the North Tama PK-12 building. She is excited about working with North Tama’s students and families, and she looks forward to providing school based therapy services to help students learn, grow, and achieve success!

Services offered may include individual, family, and group therapy appointments, evaluation and assessment of strengths and needs, consultation with teachers, parent outreach, and a link to other Tanager Place programs as well as community services.

One of the best advantages of this partnership is the location, with all services and appointments taking place on-campus at North Tama. This will make therapy appointments and other services more accessible to families, eliminating the need to travel out of town and miss large amounts of time in school. The school based therapist and school staff will work together to identify the best time for sessions to occur during a child’s school day. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes, typically on a weekly basis. Duration and frequency of sessions is determined by individual needs.

These services are not mandatory, and will require parent consent before any services can be initiated. School administrators and counselors may make referrals, but parents/guardians must give consent for any treatment to begin. Tanager Place accepts Medicaid and most private insurance. Families are responsible for the cost of any co-pay not covered by insurance. Billing will be handled directly between the family, insurance, and Tanager Place. Tanager Place staff can assist with any insurance or billing questions parents may have.

Throughout the course of treatment, the school based therapist will connect with parents to discuss their child’s progress, treatment planning, and goals. Family members are invited and encouraged to participate in the treatment process as much as possible. Virtual options for therapy may be available to students participating in remote instruction.

Any parent or legal guardian interested in exploring school based services for their child may reach out via email at: schoolbasedsup@tanagerplace.org or contact their child’s school counselor for further discussion.