ASPEN (Access to Services Providing Essential Needs) is a robust virtual tool that includes a resource directory for multiple community resources, unique behavioral health tools, and virtual resources. These tools were developed to provide improved awareness of resources and information. The initial phase of the behavioral health branch of ASPEN focused on creating a way for school counselors to not only become aware of potential students in their community that needed mental health assistance, but a way to standardize a screening process, as many felt that when a student would come into their office, they didn’t have a very 2 straightforward way of truly assessing the student’s wellbeing. Through the integration of several assessment tools (including the nationally recognized Columbia Assessment), a student self-screening and portal, and automated risk grading logic/area of need detection, ASPEN helps to aid community members in need to not only identify what they may need but get them to the right resource. A public resource database of doctors and location assigned resources was added, where a user could search and find a resource that can help them. ASPEN has grown to also include a First Responder branch (which created a public, anonymous self-screening tool to protect the anonymity of users if they desire while still helping them get to resources), Hotline Crisis Intervention, and current/future phases include Healthcare workers, Foster Children, and an Incident Response Portal.

The resource directory currently includes resources and information for health and wellness, transportation, housing, elderly support and more! ASPEN staff work on a regular basis to update current resource information and find new resources in your community.

For youth utilizing ASPEN through your student’s information in ASPEN will remain confidential and can only be viewed by the student, the appropriate school counselor, or appropriate school officials. In the event an emergency (such as a crisis incident or if a student is identified at risk for suicide), your student’s information may be shared with a 24/7 crisis line or another ASPEN counseling professional to assist in providing services to the student to address time-sensitive issues. Any risk factors identified will also be communicated to the parent/guardian.
• No ASPEN administrators or management will ever have access to your child’s personal data.
• We will never sell personal data to a third party or share it without your explicit consent.
• No youth can access ASPEN screening tools without parent or guardian permission.
Should you choose to enroll your child in medical or health care services, or if your student requires emergency services, then medical and health care providers may be given limited access to your child’s records, or a copy of the Universal Screening Results
may be sent to the medical and health care providers through a secure communication as follow up for continuum of care (examples of health care provides that are currently participating include Chestnut Health Systems, COMTREA, Provident Counseling Services and Mercy). This transfer of information is standard during medical care, and consent to this transfer is typically part of a standard form you often sign at onboarding in a
doctor’s office.
• If required by law or regulations, we may also disclose your child’s information to law enforcement, regulators, or other appropriate authorities.

Our communities continue to see rising mental health needs and need a more efficient way to find resources. Data shows a rise in mental health needs throughout the country, including in Missouri and the St. Louis region. We spent several years investigating these issues utilizing task forces with community members that were experts in the field. Throughout discovery and ideation, we always had one primary goal in mind: How do we help get the right resources to the right people when they don’t know how to find them?
• We have included links to mental health data:

• 2011-2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
• National Alliance on Mental Health: Mental Health by the Numbers •  Missouri Mental Health
• Missouri Department of Mental Health: Missouri Behavioral Health Data

Most importantly ASPEN Network Inc. does not store the location information utilized for the resource directory. Every time a user accesses the resource directory, if they want to use the location-based service, they will be asked for permission again. This ensures that the user has full control over when and how their location data is used. As such, even if a minor were to use this feature prior to parental authorization, there would be no location data stored or documented.