The state Department of Human Services announced it will end its contract with Kooth, a London-based mental health platform for children, following safety concerns raised by state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th.

Scialabba criticized Kooth for offering its services to 30 school districts without parental knowledge or consent and cited issues with anonymity and a lack of age verification.

“This revelation is a significant win for Pennsylvania’s parents,” Scialabba said. “They serve as the nucleus and foundation of a family. When children displayed concerning behavior within Kooth’s chat space, the child’s school was notified instead of parents. As a mother, it became abundantly clear that this obscure practice was both alarming and ill-advised.”

Kooth’s platform reportedly allowed anonymous counselors to interact with children, and sensitive discussions were disclosed to schools rather than parents.

Pennsylvania was the first state in the country to partner with Kooth and signed a statewide $3 million contract that was set to expire on June 30, 2025. The termination is effective Nov. 16.

Scialabba praised the decision as a win for parental involvement in children’s mental health discussions.

“Anytime sensitive discussions take place about topics such as suicide or gender ideology, parents need to be front and center to have these talks with their children,” she said. “Thanks to the outcry and outrage, Kooth will no longer be a threat to our children or parental rights in the state of Pennsylvania. I am very thrilled to see this come to fruition.”

This story was updated on Oct. 26, 2024 to adjust language indicating Scialabba’s concern about safety concerns with the mental health platform.