By Ivy Lam
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) has recently launched the T.A.L.K. App, a new mental health services resource for K-12 students across the district. The acronym stands for Tell Another. Listening is Key.
The newly introduced T.A.L.K. program appears on the Clever dashboard for all students in K-12th-grade. Once the student clicks on the app icon, they must verify that they are a Broward County student before being directed to a Microsoft Form. The app can be found under My Applications and is represented by its orange and blue lettering.
The platform is offered to all public schools in Broward County — including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“I think the new T.A.L.K app is a great way for students to reach out for help when they are not sure who to contact at their school or are afraid to ask for help,” said MSD Guidance Counselor Rachel Kusher.
After filling out the form, they are connected to a mental health professional before the end of the next school day. During this time with the ongoing pandemic, the district pushed out this app as a way for students to seek help and guidance.
“The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the traditional classroom setting and created new and unexpected shifts in the lives of our students and families,” said Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “The T.A.L.K. App serves as a solution to our District’s commitment to ensure students receive the help they need during this challenging time.”
Not only can students use the T.A.L.K. app to communicate with a mental health specialist, but they can also report if they are being abused.
Although the app was launched only recently, there have already been requests submitted. More information on mental health services can be found on browardschools.com/mentalhealthservices.
Send your news to Parkland’s #1 News Source, Parkland Talk.