Mental health needs among all age groups, especially youth, are skyrocketing. All too often, the stigma, cost, and accessibility of seeking care keep kids from getting the support they need. However since 2018, Growing Community Connections, the South Sioux City Schools, and Heartland Counseling Services have partnered to overcome these barriers by putting therapists in every elementary, middle, and high school in the district, training every school staff member in mental health first aid, and connecting students and families with community resources that ease stress-inducing burdens.