The following short op-ed includes a link to a report by the authors, outlining the need for mental health access in schools and the statewide policy steps that could facilitate partnership between county mental health and school districts.
From article:
Here’s what should be done:
- Enact legislation to amend state law to require county behavioral health departments to enter agreements with local educational agencies and allow schools to access the federal funding through the county mental health plans by providing services. This isn’t just our recommendation, in 2016 the state auditor made this very suggestion.
- Take action to amend California’s State Medi-Cal Plan to designate education agencies and Special Education Local Plan Areas as eligible providers for this program. This action is especially timely. California’s current plan, called a 1951 (b) Managed Care Waiver, authorizes only county mental health plans to administer these funds and is authorized for a five-year period ending June 30, 2020. California will need to submit a 1915 (b) waiver to the Federal Government before that date.
Read this op-ed here.
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