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Across Indiana, educators are working hard to support students’ emotional well-being—but that effort is becoming more difficult as lawmakers pull back from key mental health legislation. From morning mood check-ins using emojis to structured counseling programs, schools across the state have been expanding social-emotional learning. But despite a clear and growing need, Indiana lawmakers this year failed to pass several high-profile bills aimed at improving mental health resources for students.
According to the ChalkBeat news site educators and advocates are calling the outcome devastating. “You can’t teach a child anything if they don’t feel safe and cared for,” said Tricia Hudson, director of K-8 curriculum at North Lawrence Community Schools. That district, like others across Indiana, has integrated mental health into the classroom using tools like Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and school-based specialists from community partners like Centerstone.
These programs are making an impact. In some southern Indiana schools, students are taught to recognize emotional overwhelm—what teachers call “flipping your lid”—and how to reset and come back grounded. In Indianapolis, the Building Dreams platform, developed by former Colts player Marlin Jackson, allows students to report their feelings and receive targeted support. Teachers say the program is reducing behavioral issues and helping students form stronger emotional connections in class.
Despite these gains, support for such initiatives remains fragile. Federal grants that helped fund school-based mental health roles under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act were recently cut by the Trump administration. And at the state level, lawmakers not only dropped several mental health-focused bills but also rolled back training requirements for teachers around social-emotional learning and cultural competency.
Among the failed bills were proposals to better track and respond to bullying, require action from parents and state agencies when bullying behavior is identified, and assume students’ mental health is endangered if parents use illegal drugs. Other proposed legislation aimed to increase time for school counselors to actually counsel students, rather than manage attendance or testing—duties that take away from their core responsibilities.
Rachel Van Alstine, an advocate with the Parent Coalition for Child Safety and Wellness, described the legislative session as a major setback. “We have the money—but where are we choosing to put it?” she asked, arguing that early mental health intervention could actually save the state money long term.
Indiana still has some programs in place. A new law taking effect July 1 will require schools to notify parents of bullying investigations by the next school day, a significant improvement over the current five-day window. Lawmakers also increased the Secured School Safety Grant Program by $2.6 million annually, which may support mental health efforts—but it's up to local districts how those funds are used.
For many districts, especially in rural areas, forming community partnerships or securing long-term grants can be a challenge. And without dependable funding, programs risk becoming short-lived, despite their long-term benefits.
“Without adequate support, we’re left triaging the issues we see rather than addressing the root causes,” said Brandie Oliver, a professor in Butler University’s graduate counseling program.
Still, schools like North Lawrence Community Schools are pressing forward. They’re making the case that roles like family engagement specialists are not optional, but essential. The hope is that by proving their impact, these positions can be permanently funded—even without state or federal mandates.
If your child or student is struggling emotionally, don’t wait for the system to catch up. Reach out to Avenues Recovery today. Our team provides compassionate, personalized support for youth and families navigating mental health and substance use challenges. Help is available—and healing starts with a conversation.