Transformative School-Based Mental Health: Coordinating Services, Accessing Sustainable Funds, and Centering Youth Voice

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This session presents three studies focused on school-based mental health (SBMH) services. The first study examines Coordination of Services Teams (COST) and their role in transforming schools into centers of wellness, exploring the perceived benefits of interprofessional collaboration. The second paper investigates Medicaid expansion as a sustainable funding mechanism for SBMH services, detailing challenges and strategies from district administrators and clinicians. The third paper highlights the importance of youth perspectives on equitable mental health support through a youth participatory action research (YPAR) project, offering insights into policy development and its impact. Integrating these studies, with practice and policy leaders as the chair and discussant, the session aims to provide actionable insights for policy, practice, and research on SBMH services.

Sub Unit

• Division E - Counseling and Human Development / Division E - Section 1: Counseling

Chair

• Alex Briscoe, California Children's Trust

Papers

• Coordination of Services Teams: Catalysts for Transforming Schools into Centers of Wellness - Jenna Greenstein, University of California - Berkeley; Christopher Williams, Sacramento County Office of Education; Marcella Rodriguez, Sacramento County Office of Education; Christopher Williams, Sacramento County Office of Education; Simonel Medina, University of California - Berkeley; Yeinell Minder, University of California - Berkeley; Marieka Schotland, University of California - Berkeley; Valerie Shapiro, University of California - Berkeley

• Medicaid Expansion of Mental Health Services in Schools: Initial Qualitative Findings - Caroline Kelly, University of Chicago

• Centering Youth Perspectives on Policy Supports and Barriers to Equity-Minded School Mental Health Change - Kate Somerville, University of Virginia

Discussant

• Marcella Rodriguez, Sacramento County Office of Education