CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Through a six-digit investment, the Charleston County School District announced Monday an expansion of school-based mental health and behavioral support for students across the county.
With $984,910 in funding, the school district is launching the Teaching Healthy Regulation Independence and Vital Engagement, coined THRIVE. The program will provide school teaching alongside therapeutic supports for students in Pre-K through eighth grade, to students in need for intestive services to find success at school.
It will be designed as a short-term model that focuses on “stabilization, skill-building, and successful transition back to a student’s home school.”
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This investment is about meeting students where they are, strengthening our support systems, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive,” said Superintendent Anita Huggins. “By expanding our internal capacity and deepening our commitment to early intervention, we are building a more responsive system that keeps students connected to learning and to their school community.”
Also being funded is a broader systemwide expansion totaling 39 full-time positions at an investment of $3.2 million. The district is also working to expand Medicaid billing to help offset the cost of specialized roles and strengthen long-term sustainability.
“This investment reflects our commitment to strengthening both academic achievement and student well-being,” said Pam McKinney, the chair of the Charleston County School District Board of Trustees. “By expanding targeted mental health services and instructional supports, we are building a stronger foundation for long-term student success across Charleston County.”
The THRIVE program is expected to be staffed and ready in 2026, with enrollment beginning during the 2026–27 school year.
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