Students, families, and staff across the Washoe County School District now have expanded access to mental health and substance use support — thanks to new funding from the city of Reno.
WCSD has partnered with Care Solace, a no-cost service that helps people quickly find mental health providers and community-based support. The service is now available districtwide for students, staff, and their families and is designed to remove common barriers to getting help.
Care Solace offers personalized, confidential assistance to connect individuals with counseling, therapy, and other behavioral health resources. The service is available in multiple languages and can be accessed anytime — day or night.
“Supporting the mental health and well-being of our students, families, and staff is essential to student success,” said Dr. Paul LaMarca, WCSD’s Chief Student Supports Officer. “Care Solace removes many of the barriers families face when trying to find help. It connects people to the right support, at the right time, in a way that is simple, respectful, and responsive.”
While Care Solace does not provide therapy directly, trained care coordinators work one-on-one with individuals to identify providers that fit their needs, including insurance coverage, location, language preferences, and personal circumstances. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by phone, email, or online chat.
The expansion is made possible through funding from the City of Reno’s Opioid Recoveries Special Revenue Fund, which directs settlement dollars from the statewide opioid agreement toward prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
“This funding allows us to invest in meaningful, preventative mental health supports that strengthen families and protect young people,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. “We’re proud to support Care Solace because it helps ensure students, families, and educators can access help before a crisis escalates.”
Reno City Council recently approved $90,000 for Care Solace as part of nearly $1 million in opioid remediation investments supporting behavioral health services, care coordination, public awareness efforts, and first responder resources across the city.
WCSD is working alongside the city of Reno and the Safe and Healthy Schools Commission to ensure families and staff know about Care Solace and understand how to access the service when needed.
How to access Care SolaceCall: 888-515-0595 (multilingual support available 24/7/365)Online: www.caresolace.com/washoe
Individuals can search for providers on their own or request personalized assistance by phone, email, or live chat.