LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jefferson County Public Schools is doing more to improve mental health services for students. 

Tracey Roberts, a mental health practitioner at Coral Ridge Elementary said she wants her office to be inviting, so students feel comfortable coming to talk to her.

"I always tell people I have two kids of my own here and 540 other kids," Roberts said.

Starting this school year, all JCPS will have a mental health practitioner like Roberts. While she does work with the school counselor, their jobs are different. The counselor focuses on school-wide social and emotional learning. Meanwhile, mental health practitioners focus on more one-on-one and small group activities for kids who need it the most.

"We are really here to provide that mental support for the ones who are most vulnerable," Roberts said.

Roberts said this added emphasis on mental health is particularly important in the Coral Ridge Elementary School area where some students face hard things outside of school like family separation, hunger, and homelessness.

"We realize you have to work through what is going on inside before you can give your full potential academically," Roberts said.

There were already some mental health professionals in schools before JCPS rolled out the district-wide initiative this year. From that, Roberts said the district already saw attendance going up and suspensions going down.

Roberts said, knowing there are now more hands on deck, she is confident the initiative is going to keep creating positive change.