Index

What is School-Based Mental Health?

Therapy on school grounds, paid for by the student’s family: Licensed mental health professionals offer therapy sessions to students during the school day.
Addresses mental health challenges: Therapists help students cope with issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, behavioral problems, or family issues.
Short-term and long-term support: Therapy may be ongoing throughout the year or focused on specific issues that arise, depending on the student’s needs.
Help With social, emotional, and academic success: Therapy addresses underlying mental health issues, allowing students to better engage in their learning and improve their overall wellbeing.

Who Benefits from Reveiving SBMH Resources?

Students displaying elevated levels of social-emotional challenges such as feelings of depression, anxiety, or difficulties regulating their mood. Students experiencing situations that would necessitate intervention on a therapeutic level.

Potential Situations may include but are not limited to the following:

Divorce/Family Changes
Death of a Family Member
Complicated Medical Diagnoses
Difficulty With Attention
Traumatic Life Event

Referral Process & Parent/Guardians’ Role

Begin Referral
First, guardians reach out to their building SBMH coordinator to inquire about SBMH and initiate the referral. School staff may also provide information about this service to the family directly.
Sign Consent Form
Next, your school’s SBMH Coordinator reaches out for a simple consent form. By signing, you agree that the coordinator can review the information you provide (insurance coverage) and share it with an available provider. Once the consent form is returned, the coordinator will pass your information to an appropriate provider.
Complete Intake
The therapist or their agency will communicate with you directly to begin the intake process and communicate about current openings/waitlists. The intake process usually involves gathering information about your child, arranging for insurance coverage or payment, and meeting to determine a plan for treatment. Parents also sign a release of information form that allows SBMH coordinators to coordinate with the therapist for scheduling purposes. Parents indicate on the release form if they want the therapist to exchange additional types of information with the school. Your provider can help you understand what types of exchanges can be beneficial.
Therapy Begins
The therapist can now see your child in one of our private therapy spaces at a regularly scheduled time. If you have concerns about your student missing a particular class, let your therapist or coordinator know. We do our best to incorporate therapy into the school day with minimal academic disruption. Therapists make a plan with the student to locate the student for therapy in a way that is most comfortable for the child.
Continue Collaborating With The Therapist
The therapist will communicate with parents directly about the child’s progress in treatment. Parents are encouraged to maintain a collaborative relationship with the therapist to support the child’s growth. Parents are always welcome to ask questions and provide information to the therapist directly as well.
Terminating Services / End of Summer Year
As students progress toward the agreed-upon goals, the therapist will discuss terminating services and how a student may be supported if they no longer need or wish to receive therapy. Termination can be discussed as soon as a child no longer demonstrates a need for services, or at a natural break in the schedule. During summer, therapists will reach out to families to make a plan for the break. Families may choose to continue therapy at the therapist’s office in the community (off school property), pause services until fall, or terminate. Families wanting to start services again after a termination should contact their SBMH coordinator.