Have a Question?

We have answered the most frequently asked questions below but if you still have a question, feel free to reach out to us at carecoordinator@daybreakhealth.com.

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For Families

How do I know if my child’s school partners with Daybreak?

You can reach out to your child’s school counselor and ask them if the school has a partnership with Daybreak. Or, email us here and we can let you know. If your school does have a partnership with Daybreak, you can talk to your school counselor about referring your child for teletherapy services. If your school doesn’t have a partnership with Daybreak, tell them they can learn more about us here!

How do the teletherapy sessions work?

Daybreak provides video-based 1:1 teletherapy sessions between a student and their matched therapist. These sessions occur weekly for 50-minutes at a regular time with their assigned therapist. We work hard to accommodate the time that works best for the student and family’s schedules. In between sessions, a student may get additional support from their therapist through text-based messaging.

When and where do the teletherapy sessions take place?

Students can meet with their therapist before, during, or after school. At home or at school. Over the weekend or on school breaks or holidays. Our counselors are available between 7am and 8pm during the week, on Saturdays, and over school breaks. Some schools prefer that students meet with their therapist outside of school hours so that is a conversation for families to have with their students' school counselor.

How much does therapy cost?

At Daybreak, our mission is to make high quality mental health support accessible to all kids who need it. By partnering with school districts, they can sponsor sessions at no cost to families.

How is my child matched with their therapist?

Daybreak has a personalized and culturally-responsive matching process that allows us to make a match between each student and the right therapist for them. Our clinicians all have years of experience working with youth, speak 8 different languages, 74% report as BIPOC, and 14% as members of the LGTBQ+ community. Additionally our clinicians specialize across 26 different mental health conditions and 13 modalities of care. Our matching process occurs after a 50-minute intake session involving a series of 25 questions, which allows us to match a student to their clinician based on presenting need, clinical style, personality, schedule and more. This results in 90% of students reporting being satisfied with their clinical match.

Why is Daybreak asking for my insurance information?

Daybreak has partnered with insurance providers to work with your school district on session reimbursement. By partnering with insurance providers, we can serve more kids in your district with mental health support.

Why would I submit insurance information?

Our goal is to ensure that high quality care is provided to families at no cost. There are no costs for families when teletherapy sessions are covered by insurance providers.

Do I have to submit our insurance information?

No. If you wish to bypass submitting your insurance information, follow these steps in the parent welcome packet (1) “Click here to submit insurance” (2) At the top of the pop up select “I prefer to not provide insurance information” under the question “How would you like to share insurance information?” (3) click “Next”

What mental health symptoms does Daybreak treat?

You can see the full list of youth mental health symptoms we treat here.

What age groups does Daybreak work with?

Daybreak works with students in grades K-12. For students that are elementary aged, we have a family therapy program designed to meet their needs. For students ages 10+, we meet with them 1:1. You can learn more about our specific school-based programs here.

How do I know about the progress my child is making in the teletherapy program?

Our clinicians have monthly or bi-monthly check-ins with the student’s family. It’s an opportunity for clinicians to share what they are working on in their sessions and how families can help to effectively support the child in school and at home. We always respect the fundamental confidentiality of our sessions with the student.

Can Daybreak clinicians prescribe medication?

No, we do not provide psychiatry services to students.

How do I know my child’s privacy is protected?

Daybreak Health’s platforms are compliant with all federal and state privacy laws, including but not limited to FERPA and HIPAA. We follow each school district's process for review or correction of any student data held and adhere to any identified Data Privacy Agreements. The public agencies will own the records of all student data sent to Daybreak Health. The student and parents/guardians have access to—and own—all records of therapy with Daybreak. The public agency has access to a subset of the therapy records (e.g., session attendance, intake, discharge) per the Release of Information signed at the outset of treatment. At the request of the public agency, student or parent records will be deleted from the system.

Could my child continue with Daybreak Health after their school sponsored program?

Yes, your child could continue with Daybreak’s services after their school-sponsored program has finished. If the therapist and school counselor agree that the child needs additional services, they can discuss if the school will continue to fund the sessions or if the child’s insurance will need to cover future sessions. Daybreak can also refer the child to local community resources for continued care.

Does this have an impact on my insurance deductible or premium?

By providing your insurance information to us, this has no negative  impact on your deductible or premium.

Will my child receive a diagnosis?

Your child will likely receive a diagnosis as part of joining Daybreak’s program. Since Daybreak’s program is designed primarily for children with mild symptoms, our diagnoses are typically broad and simply serve as a way to frame the high-level symptoms the child is dealing with. The diagnosis will not be shared with the school without parent consent, and will only be shared with insurance providers on an as needed basis. In many cases, this diagnosis can also be used with your primary care provider to get medication for mild conditions such as ADD or ADHD. Please reach out to carecoordinator@daybreakhealth.com if you have any questions regarding diagnosis and the impact.

For School Staff

How do I determine if a student is a good fit for Daybreak’s teletherapy program?

When a school partners with Daybreak, our School Account Team will meet with potential referring staff members to provide training and educate them on which students would be a good fit for Daybreak’s program. They’ll share symptoms to watch for, questions to ask, and how to assess a student’s readiness for the program.

What if a student needs therapy beyond Daybreak’s teletherapy program?

If a student needs therapy longer than our program duration, we can extend their sessions so they have the best outcomes…as long as we have the school's approval. If additional support beyond teletherapy is needed, we will make any necessary referrals for more intensive services within the school’s MTSS when appropriate and to outside community partners and resources.

Is the Daybreak program clinically validated?

Our teletherapy programs were developed by child & adolescent clinical experts and modeled on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Universal Protocol, weaving in elements of Social-Emotional Learning. We have the only youth-focused and school-centered teletherapy programs with proven outcomes.

What ages/grade levels can participate in teletherapy?

Our program provides teletherapy for students in grades K-12 with mild to moderate-heavy social, emotional, or behavioral needs. To learn more about our different teletherapy programs, please visit our Programs page.

When and where do the teletherapy sessions take place?

Students can meet with their therapist before, during, or after school. At home or at school. Over the weekend or on school breaks or holidays. Our counselors are available between 7am and 8pm during the week, on Saturdays, and over school breaks. Some schools prefer that students meet with their therapist outside of school hours so that is a conversation for families to have with their student's school counselor.

Are all of Daybreak’s clinicians licensed?

Daybreak clinicians include Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) and Licensed Psychologists as well Licensed Psychiatrists (MD/DO). All clinicians have a minimum of 3 years of prior experience working with adolescents. In some cases, schools approve leveraging Mental Health Associates to work with students. These clinicians are working to complete their licensure and receive ongoing training and oversight from Daybreak’s mental health professionals.

How is student privacy protected?

Daybreak Health’s platforms are compliant with all federal and state privacy laws, including but not limited to the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) and The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We follow each school district's process for review or correction of any student data held and adhere to any identified Data Privacy Agreements. The public agencies will own the records of all student data sent to Daybreak Health. The student and parents/guardians have access to—and own—all records of therapy with Daybreak. The public agency has access to a subset of the therapy records (e.g., session attendance, intake, discharge) per the Release of Information signed at the outset of treatment. At the request of the public agency, student or parent records will be deleted from the system.We follow each school district's process for review or correction of any student data held and adhere to any identified Data Privacy Agreements. The public agencies will own the records of all student data sent to Daybreak Health. The student and parents/guardians have access to—and own—all records of therapy with Daybreak. The public agency has access to a subset of the therapy records (e.g., session attendance, intake, discharge) per the Release of Information signed at the outset of treatment. At the request of the public agency, student or parent records will be deleted from the system.

How do teletherapy sessions work on campus?

We get asked this question a lot since schools tend to have space constraints and we want to ensure that students feel safe and comfortable during their sessions so they can talk openly, freely, and confidentially with their therapist. We have developed an in-depth guide on how to easily set up these spaces on campus. Download the Guide

Who makes student referrals? Can parents refer their child directly? Can students refer themselves?

Most Daybreak referrals are submitted by school-based staff (counselors, educators, administrators) who help advise the youth and the family on the mental health services available on their campus. Staff can also remain connected to the student's care journey if approved by the youth and/or parents. If your district would like parents or students to refer themselves directly (without the involvement of school staff) we’re happy to discuss this implementation strategy as well.

How does Daybreak fit into the other services we offer on campus?

Many district partners offer a range of mental health services across their communities including site-based staff (counselors, psychologists, social workers), services for students with individualized education plans, and partnerships with local community providers. Daybreak helps to expand your district's access to a diverse, talented, and readily available team of clinicians that can serve your students within 1-2 weeks of their referral. Daybreak is an amazing resource for any students that need immediate access to support, or who prefer the affordability and flexibility offered through teletherapy. We know that serving students’ mental health requires a range of options to meet the needs of each child and we’re proud to be another resource within your toolkit.

How does Daybreak partner with local/community resources?

In cases where more specialized or in-person services are a better fit for a student, we partner closely with community providers to refer students.

How do we know if the Daybreak program is successful?

The Daybreak Health team partners with each district team to identify key metrics for success to monitor throughout the program. In addition to any custom data points, Daybreak provides metrics to the district project team on a consistent basis throughout the school year. Some of these metrics include: speed to match, student satisfaction, clinical impact, school impact, and more. This allows the team to collaborate on future program needs.

We also have a customized school dashboard that provides real-time reporting for referring school staff on student progress through treatment including intake status, session attendance, clinical outcomes, treatment goals, and discharge/completion noted.

How does Daybreak get parent/guardian consent?

All families are required to complete both a parental consent for treatment and a release of information prior to beginning treatment with minors. This Consent form and Release of Information are completed through a simple digital form that is sent to parents/guardians upon the intake interview.

For Students

How do I get started with teletherapy?

Talk to your school counselor if you feel like you could benefit from some mental health support. They can refer you for Daybreak’s teletherapy program with qualified clinicians.

Do my parents need to know I’m participating?

If you don’t feel comfortable telling your family about therapy, talk to your school counselor and you may be able to get started on your own.

Is it free?

Daybreak is sponsored by your school district so if they have a partnership with us, it is likely free for you and your family. If you’re not sure if Daybreak is offered at your school, reach out to your school counselor and ask!

When do my sessions take place?

You can do your teletherapy sessions whenever and wherever is best for you. Our counselors are available between 7am and 8pm during the week, on Saturdays, and over school breaks. Some schools prefer that you meet with your therapist after school hours. But, you can talk with your school counselor to see what they recommend.

Will anyone find out about what I say in counseling?

Most things that you say to your Daybreak therapist will be kept private and confidential but there are a few things that cannot remain confidential due to safety reasons. Your therapist will discuss this with you in your first session.

Is my counselor available 24-7?

You will be able to send and receive text messages securely with your therapist. Your therapist will commit to checking messages every day, and it is recommended that they check in the morning and the evening. Messaging access can be particularly helpful as you try to bring what you discuss in your 1:1 sessions into your everyday life, or when tough situations come up and you want someone to talk to. Messaging is not meant to be 'real-time'. Our therapists check in on their messages every day, but it should not be used in situations when you need immediate help.

Daybreak understands and supports our mission of supporting students with becoming the best potential version of themselves.

Hani Youssef, Superintendent, Simi Valley Unified School District

Daybreak is one of the best things we’ve ever done and is our strongest partner in school-based mental health. They’re receptive to our needs and have filled a big gap for us. We can now provide services to our students when and where they need it.

Jonathan Spreng, Administrator on Special Assignment, School-Based Mental Health & Wellness Department, Coalinga-Huron Unified School District

One student in particular hasn’t had any discipline records since starting with Daybreak. I think this student has learned some emotional regulation strategies which help keep him out of trouble. Every student I have referred has formed a strong connection with their therapist.

Daybreak District Partner

Daybreak has done a lot for us in terms of connecting with our kids - we are so geographically isolated - without your team we wouldn’t be able to do half of what we do.

Daybreak District Partner

Students are able to cope better and maintain their grades, despite the challenges they are currently facing.

Daybreak District Partner