BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — A central Illinois county is using a pilot program to connect children and teenagers experiencing a mental health concern or crisis with a therapist.

The McLean County Health Department, county Center for Human Services and the Chestnut Health Systems are providing therapists to area schools through the Embedded School-Based Service Pilot Project, according to The Pantagraph .

The pilot began last year in Olympia and Ridgeview schools. It expanded to Bloomington and Parkside junior high schools this year.

Schools were selected based on need and with the goal of serving urban and rural students of all ages, said Cory Tello, a member of the McLean County Board of Health and a retired school psychologist.

Students referred to the program may show signs of depression or anxiety, are struggling with peer problems or social skills, are experiencing disciplinary or attendance problems, dealing with trauma, thinking about self-harm or are exhibiting angry behavior, according to the therapists.

School shootings, such as the February shooting in Parkland, Florida, are making some students anxious, said Sara Fidlow, a licensed clinical social worker and early intervention specialist with Chestnut.

“We are helping the students to process that,” she said.

Therapists, school counselors and health officials believe the program is working.

“The feedback I’ve gotten from the schools is they’re excited to have someone collaborate with them and work with their students in a timely fashion to get them the services they need,” said Nona Waller, a licensed clinical professional counselor and Center for Human Services outreach coordinator.

The Board of Health is allocating property tax dollars to fund the project. The board is providing $65,000 to Chestnut for the project at Olympia, $60,000 each for BJHS and Parkside, and $103,000 for the project at Ridgeview and countywide substance use services.