We're on a mission to help schools support student mental health earlier and more effectively—without adding burden to already overwhelmed staff.
The student mental health crisis is real. Schools are facing unprecedented challenges—rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among students—while counselors and staff are stretched beyond capacity.
Traditional approaches often mean students slip through the cracks until there's a crisis. We knew there had to be a better way.
Guardian SmartCare was born from a simple but powerful idea: What if schools could identify struggling students earlier—before they reach crisis—without adding more work to already overwhelmed staff?
We built a privacy-first, non-clinical wellness platform that gives schools early visibility into student well-being while respecting student privacy and keeping the process simple for everyone involved.
These commitments shape our approach to supporting student wellness
Student privacy isn't just important—it's non-negotiable. We're FERPA-compliant and design every feature with privacy at the core.
Every decision we make starts with asking: "How does this help students?" Their well-being is our north star.
Schools don't need more complexity. We create tools that are easy to implement, simple to use, and don't add burden to staff.
We believe in catching struggles early—before they become crises. Prevention is more powerful than reaction.
We partner with educators, mental health professionals, and students to build solutions that actually work in the real world.
We're not therapists, and we don't push agendas. We provide visibility and connection—nothing more, nothing less.
Guardian SmartCare was founded by someone who understands mental health challenges from both professional and personal perspectives.
Founder & CEO
Trace brings a unique combination of professional crisis intervention experience and deeply personal understanding of mental health challenges to Guardian SmartCare.
As a former Police Officer and Certified Crisis Worker, Trace spent years on the frontlines of mental health crises—working as a Suicide Hotline Call Taker and responding to individuals in their darkest moments.
But Trace's passion for student mental health isn't just professional—it's personal. As a survivor of suicide attempts and PTSD, Trace understands firsthand what it's like to struggle in silence and what it takes to find hope and healing.
"I've seen both sides of the crisis response system—as a professional and as someone who needed help. I know what it's like to need support and not know where to get it. That's why I built Guardian SmartCare."
These values shape how we build our platform, serve our partners, and support students every day.
We do what we say we'll do. Student privacy is sacred, and we honor our commitments to schools, families, and students without compromise.
Compassion drives everything we do. We approach student mental health with empathy, understanding, and genuine care for every individual.
Schools count on us to be there when they need us. We build stable, dependable solutions that work consistently, day after day.
We stay laser-focused on what matters most: helping schools identify and support struggling students earlier and more effectively.
Guardian SmartCare is guided by experienced educators and wellness professionals who understand the real challenges facing K-12 schools today.
Our Advisory Board consists of school administrators, counselors, and frontline wellness professionals with decades of combined experience supporting student mental health and well-being in K-12 settings.
We meet quarterly with our Advisory Board to ensure Guardian SmartCare continues to evolve with the needs of schools and students.
Principals and district leaders who understand budget constraints, policy requirements, and implementation challenges.
Frontline professionals who work directly with students every day and understand their evolving needs.
Professionals with expertise in student well-being, crisis response, and creating supportive school environments.
"Our Advisory Board ensures that Guardian SmartCare stays grounded in the realities of K-12 education—building tools that actually work for the people using them every day."
— Trace Barney, Founder & CEO
Whether you want to learn more about Guardian SmartCare, schedule a demo, or bring Trace to your school for a free presentation, we're here to help.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]