DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- Dublin City Schools and the Ohio State University are teaming up to improve mental health in schools.  In the summer of 2023, a group of 25 teachers and staff from Dublin City Schools began the Educator-to-Social Work Pathway program. It's a rigorous two-year initiative cr eated because of the need for mental health support in schools across Ohio. Dublin City Schools currently has eighteen mental health specialists. And with the 25 teachers graduating in May, they will more than double that number.  Columbus activates floodwall due to heavy rainfall "Just a few years ago we had six," Tyler Wolfe, director of student wellness at Dublin City Schools, said. "A few years before that we had three. So, we've gone, in a relatively short period of time, from three or four mental health specialists to over 40 and that's a reflection of the need." Lynsey Burkins is a member of the cadre. She said when she first learned about the opportunity, she jumped on it. "I thought it was a no brainer," Burkins said. "Like from past, seriously, like ten years in the classroom, we've been noticing so much dysregulation, families in need. And as classroom teachers, it's hard to do all of that support." Burkins said it's been no easy feat. Upon being selected, she immediately began a summer internship with four classes on top of it. "We still stayed in our current roles so then I taught third grade for another year taking full-time classes: two online, two in-person," Burkins said. Burkins said she's already seeing that hard work pay off with her students. "They're already starting to get new coping skills because there's more people in the building to help," Burkins said. "They're already starting to come and ask for help before things get too bad." Wolfe said since the COVID-19 pandemic, they've noticed students suffering from increased amounts of anxiety and depression.  "We found that kids are unable to access academics and curriculum and be successful in school if they're suffering with these mental health issues," Wolfe said. "So they don't leave their mental health issues at home. They bring them right into school." Wolfe said they want to reduce the stigma around accessing mental health care. "Just like a person with a broken arm wouldn't be afraid to go to the doctor, someone with a mental health issue shouldn't be afraid to access care, whether it's at school or somewhere else, because our mental health is just as important as our physical health," Wolfe said. Wolfe said one of the major benefits of the program is cadre members already have a head start. "All of the people that we have in this cadre of people that have gone through the program have been employees in Dublin City schools," Wolfe said. "So they have the relationships. They know the kids, they know how Dublin works and they have experience." Burkins said she sees students, their families and the community as partners. "We cannot have a school without loving on the community and making sure that homes feel good. They have what they need and students feel good. Because when they walk in our doors, we really want to make sure that that they're supported," Burkins said. According to Burkins, with all the changes in education and funding across the state and nation, it's important to protect mental health.  "I would hope that the study that OSU is doing can lay the groundwork for that and the blueprint so that other districts and other schools can have this opportunity and students and families can be helped," Burkins said. Cadre members graduate from Ohio State on May 4 and will sit for the LSW. Beginning in the fall, they'll serve as licensed mental health specialists within Dublin City Schools. ...read more read less