According to the JED Foundation in 2019, 61% of teens said that the top reason for not getting help with mental health issues was embarrassment. We want to give them a safe and private space to express how they are feeling. WellCheq allows them to communicate their needs without having to look an adult in the eye. We aim to facilitate important conversations!
How are teachers using WellCheq in their classrooms?
Teachers are having students complete their check-in first thing in the morning or during homeroom/advisory. It takes only 1-2 minutes for students to finish.
For what ages is WellCheq designed?
WellCheq is currently being implemented in elementary, middle, and high schools. Children as young as 5 have been able to readily use the platform. We also have a version that is designed to support students in higher education settings.
How does WellCheq work?
WellCheq is a daily check-in app for teachers to use with students. This tool gives students a space to privately express how they are feeling in a way that is comfortable and familiar. WellCheq also informs teachers about how their learners are doing, so they can proactively intervene as needed.
After students complete their check in, the data immediately populates the dashboards that are accessible to teachers, counselors, and administrators. Individuals who select their wellbeing as a 3 or below are identified as "of concern." Teachers also receive an email with students of concern, class average for the day, and most commonly selected emotion. The app enables teachers to track longitudinal trends for individual learners, as well as for the class.
How do I sign up for WellCheq?
If you are interested in utilizing WellCheq, please email jodi@wellcheq.com. It is easy to implement.
I am a teacher interested in WellCheq, can I use it without my entire school being on board?
Yes! We have worked with individual teachers, social workers, school psychologists and administrators.
What is WellCheq NOT?
WellCheq is NOT a diagnostic tool for depression or anxiety.
We are NOT a suicide screener.
Our goal is to help teachers identify which students may be in need of additional support, but we do NOT inquire about suicidal ideation or self-harm.
What should I consider before adopting WellCheq?
Depending on the school, there may be protocols around informing parents about the use of WellCheq. We are happy to provide letter templates that explain how the app works. Potential users should also consider how they want to use the data to support students.
For example, if a student consistently identifies as a 3 or below, at what point are they referred for additional support services?
When should parents/guardians be contacted?
What systems does the school have in place to ensure that students' needs are being met?
Data
Why is this data important?
This data is important for teachers, schools, districts and research.
Teachers
When teachers have insight into which of their students may be struggling, they can proactively intervene. Even simple check-ins can make a big difference for students who feel alone with their feelings. Teachers can also us the data to refer students for additional services as needed.
Schools
Understanding the wellbeing of students can inform class assignments within schools. Administrators can utilize the data to identify groups of learners who would thrive together or separately. Additionally, this data can inform decisions about student and teacher pairings.
The data can also inform school-level programming such as counseling groups or assemblies.
Administrators can utilize the information to track their progress as a school.
Information from WellCheq can also be used to plan professional development for the teacher community.
Districts
With insight into how students are doing across different grade levels and schools, districts can more strategically allocate resources. If certain schools appear to have lower levels of wellbeing, districts can invest in additional counselors or support services for those learners.
Research
We strongly believe in the importance of equity and promoting wellbeing for students. Our goal is to use this data to better understand how our students are doing across different ages, gender and racial identities, school types and geographic locations. This information will help us, as a society, work towards a more equitable system that ensures ALL of our students feel safe and better able to meet their potential.
Privacy
How do we protect student data?
Privacy is a top priority of ours. WellCheq is designed to protect student identifiable information. We do NOT have access to student first name, last name, username, gender identity or responses. The data belongs to schools. Our team CANNOT see student names or link data to individual students. We can only see class level data.
How is student data protected from other students?
Teachers can opt to give students passwords for their WellCheq login. This is optional, but can add another layer of security.
