Right now:

• 61% of public schools report rising anxiety and emotional dysregulation

• Over 25% of families skip or delay care due to cost, transportation, or work conflicts

Students are walking into classrooms overwhelmed, exhausted, and dysregulated. Teachers are being asked to manage needs far beyond their capacity.

But inside the schools where care is happening, we're seeing a very different story:

• A kindergartener who struggled to sit still is now calmer — and recently had his best day yet.

• A mom messaged to say her daughter slept through the night for the first time in months.

• A student who used to get physical hasn't had a single incident since starting care — and no longer complains of stomachaches and headaches.

• And a little girl who began care with hand tremors now shows none at all.

Stories like these are one of the many reasons why I joined the board.

We're now in a position to expand this model, advance research, and bring this support to more communities — potentially including our own.

If this mission resonates with you, here are two meaningful ways you can get involved:

Make a donation or become a monthly supporter HERE.

Or, if you want to explore bringing this into our district or another community, let's talk.

We are actively identifying new school partners, donors, and local advocates. Every gift, every introduction, and every conversation matters. If you'd like to learn more, ask questions, or connect over coffee, I'd be happy to share more about the impact we're already seeing — and where we're headed next.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this, and for considering a mission that directly supports kids, teachers, and families where it's needed most.

Andrea M. Polnaszek, LCSW