State Funded School Based Mental Health Services

Childrens Mental Health Division of the State Department of Human Services through
the School Linked Mental Health Services Grant has awarded Family, Adolescent, and
Children Therapy Services (FACTS) the ability to provide mental health services to
middle school and pre-school aged students during the remainder of the 2013-2014
school year in ISD 194, 196 and 197. These services will likely start in early to mid-April
for the current school year.
This grant will continue for four more years beyond the current school year through the
2017-2018 school year. Additional schools can be added in subsequent years of the
grant. The plan is to begin offering mental health services at the elementary school
level beginning in the 2014-2015 school year. At this time other community providers
will be involved with high school aged students.
The State School linked grant aims to address three primary objectives:
#1 - Improve identification of mental health issues for students and strengthen school
partnerships with early childhood centers and/or host elementary and middle schools.
#2 - Increase accessibility for uninsured & underinsured students to mental health
services
#3 - Improve clinical & functional outcomes for students with a mental health diagnosis
The grant is designed to partner with school staff to collaborate regarding the child and
family's needs. There is funding to help with the relationship building activities with
school staff to make a school based program work. There is also built in flexibility to be
able to meet with parents and children before formal services start to help engage them
in the service.
Other services covered by the grant
Training to parents on mental health issues
Assisting families with no insurance to get on insurance if possible
Training to school staff on the mental health needs of children
The ability to attend school based activities like IEP meetings or
conferences with a parent
There is no additional costs to the district for these services other than staff time spent
in coordination of services and referral related activities.
This a year around program for students. It is anticipated that contact with many youth
during the summer months will occur in the home or community.
FACTS wants to employ a flexible service delivery model that will focus on services
within the school setting but may also include outreach or services in the child's home
when needed. Contact with the family in our clinic may be another option for those not
wanting to meet in their home. We consider outreach and collaboration with parents as
critical in this work.
The vision of FACTS with mental health services geared toward early childhood and
middle school aged children for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year is to begin

to actively engage school staff regarding the mental health needs of the students they
serve as well as engage parents with children who have mental health issues. Better
understanding the present needs of these students will allow for more accurate staffing
levels in the future to meet those needs.