Family School Liaisons

Family School Liaisons (FSLs) are key support staff in every school. FSLs work cooperatively with students, adult family members, school staff and community partners to remove barriers that prevent students from learning. They provide resource information and referrals for families who have specific needs such as health care, emergency assistance, or counseling. They use a strengths-based, holistic service approach that engages families as partners in the process of helping their student succeed. In addition to addressing specific concerns, FSLs offer preventive, proactive services to families centered on developmental information, family life cycle information, and topics such as safety, physical and mental health, and family fun.

The ISD Mental Health Initiative is an exciting partnership between the Independence School District and KVC Behavioral HealthCare (KVC) that provides in-home family therapy and assessment, telemedicine psychiatric services, and crisis intervention services for children and families enrolled in any programs provided by the District. This partnership greatly reduces wait-time for needed services and addresses barriers to mental health services such as transportation. Funding support from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City makes therapeutic services available for students and families across the district.