Marble is expanding its care for elementary-grade students. As of today, counselors can refer any student age 6 or older for both individual and family therapy.
Over the past years we have heard a common question from elementary school counselors: why does Marble not accept kids in first and second grade?
Counselors have told us repeatedly that the need in their buildings is as real as anywhere else in the district, with thinner options to meet it. A first grader anxious every morning. A second grader who lost a grandparent. A 6-year-old who cannot settle in the classroom. Too often those students cannot access the right support right away.
Over the past year we have made significant investments to expand our provider network so that we can offer effective care to younger students as well. Given the particularities of this age group, we wanted a strong network of qualified providers in place before making this available. Referrals for students aged 6 and up go only to providers with real experience treating younger children. Not every clinician in our network takes this on, and at this age the right match matters more than at any other.
Care for a first grader has to look different than care for a teenager, and we are putting effective guidelines in place to reflect that. These include:
- A guardian has to be present throughout the intake appointment, which is a guided conversation with a specialist to find the right Marble therapist. Age is one factor, alongside preferred language, gender, background, faith, and specialty.
- Guardians are brought in closely throughout the care process. Providers will provide regular updates for any of our younger students.
- Instead of a one-size-fits-all option, clients can choose 30-, 45-, or 60-minute sessions. Younger students can start with shorter sessions as they begin care.
These guidelines are what the evidence supports. There is a large body of research showing that virtual care can be as effective as in-person care, and for younger children the strongest results come where a caregiver is brought into the treatment rather than left outside of it. Marble's virtual therapy is designed to be engaging, including online exercises that therapists and students can do live together. And virtual care continues to remove real barriers for families, from scheduling flexibility to travel.
Marble remains committed to providing the best possible care to its patients. Across the students we serve, 70% report feeling better within 3 months of starting care.
Reasons to refer a student are the same as for any older student and may include anxiety, low mood, behavior concerns, adjustment, grief, or school refusal. We continue to treat a wide range of needs, from emotional & behavioral health to neurodiversity & learning to relationships & family, with no waitlist to start care.
Alongside individual therapy, family therapy is also available for this age group. For some students with acute needs, virtual care remains the wrong path. In those cases Marble will continue to help place them into appropriate care. Our existing crisis protocols and safety assessments will remain in place.
Marble is currently available in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and Ohio and remains free to use for schools and districts. We work with most insurance plans, including no copay on accepted Medicaid plans.
Any students aged 6 and up can be referred through the referral process you already use and are familiar with. If you are an elementary school counselor or school worker with a student that is in need of support, visit app.marblehealth.com/refer to make a referral in less than 2 minutes.
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