School Based Behavioral and Mental Health

The Collaborative established the School Based Behavioral and Mental Health Services Workgroup to explore ways that schools can access mental health services for their students and their families.

Goals -

• Foster the development of local planning and implementation of behavioral and mental health services delivered at school.
• Develop and promote a statewide plan for coordinated Behavioral and Mental Health Services delivered at school.
• Promote quality behavioral and mental health services in the school.

A little more explanation:

School-based behavioral and mental health services are provided by a wide range of professionals - counselors, psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatrists. School-based services provide assistance to students with a range of needs. Areas of particular interest with the school-based behavioral and mental health field include school safety, prevention initiatives, substance abuse treatment, and financing mental health services.

School Based Services Include: Individual Counseling, Family Counseling, Group Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Psychiatric Counsultation, Consultations w/ School Staff, Staff Development Workshops.
Early Intervention Services: Education Groups, After-School Programs, Violence Prevention Programs, Referral to Community Services, In-School Suspension Counseling, Multi-Systems Community Teams, Parent Workshops/ Support Groups.
Children Served: The children and youth served are provided with parental permission. The exception to this rule is in cases of emergency such as harm to self or others. In some school-based programs parents can access mental health services at school. Families or school staff makes referrals to the mental health professional.

For more information about this workgroup and/or if you would like to become a member, please contact the Current Co-Chairs: Susan Robinson at susan.robinson@dhhs.nc.gov or Keith Letchworth at letchworthj@ecu.edu.