Title
Agreement for Coordination Services with the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.
Body
Recommended Action: Approve the agreement and authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement.
Background: The 2018 legislature budgeted funds for a mental health intervention pilot program between six school districts and community mental health centers in Kansas. USD 259 and COMCARE were selected as the partnering organizations in Sedgwick County in year one of the pilot program. The Behavioral Health Intervention Teams will consist of a school liaison employed by the participating school district and master level clinicians/therapists and bachelor level case managers employed by the participating community mental health center. In Wichita, COMCARE will embed teams within 22 of the USD 259 district schools and shall be staffed by 34 clinicians/therapists and 45 case managers with a target to serve 800 youth in the first year.
The goal of the program is to improve the social-emotional wellness and outcomes for students by increasing schools' access to treatment providers. The pilot will identify and provide interventions for two groups of youth. One group consists of the Children in Need of Care (CINC) and/or in State custody who have experienced multiple placements and have behavioral health needs. The second group consists of youth who are not in State custody but who need more behavioral health treatment during and outside of the school day.
Part of the pilot program includes the hiring of a specialized contractor that consults with each of the participating community mental health centers and school districts. This individual provides technical assistance to all school districts and mental health centers. They review and summarize tri-annual reports submitted by participating school districts and community mental health centers on forms designed by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The Association of Community Mental Heal...
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