WCPSS is expanding the School Based Mental Health (SBMH) Program through the U.S. Department of Education Mental Health Matters grant beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Per the grant requirements, direct services to students must begin within 180 days of funding. This grant allows for the creation of mental health therapist positions to provide direct mental health services to students in need. The services will include comprehensive mental health assessments, diagnosis of mental disorders, development of and monitoring of mental health treatment plans, documentation of services, referrals for psychiatric consultation as needed, referrals to supplemental mental health service providers, discharge planning, and monitoring of data collected. These highly specialized services will require a custom electronic records management and data monitoring system. The system will need to include the following components: • Identifying data (e.g., name, client/student ID number) • School name and school point of contact • Contact information (e.g., phone number, address, next of kin) • Guardianship status • Documentation of consent for referral and treatment • Documentation of consent for release of information • Documentation of any mandated disclosure of confidential information (e.g., report of child abuse, release secondary to a court order) • Access to a variety of assessment tools to complete clinical assessments • Presenting chief complaint and diagnosis • Plan for services, updated as appropriate (e.g., treatment plan, supervision plan, intervention schedule, consultation contacts, referrals to external providers) • Documentation of case notes • Psychosocial history • Dashboards that will produce district and school level data points, charts, and reports including chief complaint, diagnoses, tracking of intake process, duration of treatment, treatment outcomes. • Clinical supervision review and approval capabilities • HIPAA and FERPA compliant • Interfacing with Infinite Campus • Remote access 24 hours a day This system will need to be reviewed and approved by WCPSS Technology Department to ensure safety and security for students and the school system. The award is intended for a one-year period. WCPSS reserves the right to extend the award for two additional one-year terms at the discretion of the district, and based on available funding.
