School Based Mental Health Collaboration Contact Information: Mark Lee – MI Children’s Services Coordinator, Alabama Department of Mental Health (334) Dr. Mabrey Whetstone – Alabama Department of Education (334)

School Based Mental Health Collaboration Dept. of Mental Health Overview.  Commissioner (Governor’s Cabinet)  Three Areas of Services (MI/SA/DD)  Adult Pre-occupied  Less than 10% of DMH dedicated dollars spent on C&A services  Why?  MI Division serves 100,000+ consumers.  Of this 25,000+ are Children & Adolescents  C&A has partners for blended funding with ALSDE, DHR, DYS, etc.

 Children’s Services  Started in the 1980s through a Federal Planning Grant.  Mandated other State Agencies participate with planning and this planning body still exists today – Child and Adolescent Task Force. School Based Mental Health Collaboration

Early Collaboration with ALSDE – State Level  Development and funding for first 10 Day Treatments in State of Alabama  Multineeds Legislation developed and continues to be a strong relationship.  Policy Development – i.e. educational programs within Residential Treatment Centers (RTC’s) School Based Mental Health Collaboration

 Early Collaboration with ALSDE – Local Level  Limited Co-location of mental health services in school systems  Limited Co-location of mental health services in Alternative Schools  Limited access provided to mental health to come into the school – i.e. IHI and CM services  Summer Programs School Based Mental Health Collaboration

 Modern Day System of Care  In last 5 years, state mental health agencies are being mandated by Federal arms to move to modern day systems of care.  ALSDE and DMH met and discussed how to move to a modern day system of care that will focus on:  Evidenced-based Practices  Data Driven and Performance Based  Youth Directed and Family Guided School Based Mental Health Collaboration

 Modern Day System of Care (cont.)  How to TRANSFORM into a system that focuses on:  Mental Health Prevention – training for a population, and  Improving Access to Care  Transportation issues  No shows at mental health – “non-compliance”  Missing class to go to mental health appointments  Stigma – not having to go to the “CRAZY HOUSE”  Access to other mental health services such as psychiatrist, nurses, case management, etc. School Based Mental Health Collaboration

 Modern Day System of Care (cont.)  Integration  Different from Co-Location  Integrated Team Approach  Results Driven  No New Data Collection  Use Existing Data Reported  For Mental Health, these are National Outcome Measures  Level of Functioning  School Attendance  Criminal Justice Involvement  Social Connectedness  Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment tool implemented in October 2010 School Based Mental Health Collaboration

School Based Mental Health Collaboration Model Dr. Mabrey Whetstone  Answering an Undeniable Need  A Deliberate Strategy in Fiscally Tough Times  Improving Access through Integration  Familiarity Breeds Effectiveness!  Importance of the Gatekeeper  Starting Where the Kids Are and Growing  Accountability is Key  A “Win-Win” Proposition!

School Based Mental Health Collaboration Model “Nuts & Bolts”  Initial Orientation  Formalized Agreement between MH & LEA  Data Collection & Reporting  Standardized Referral Process  “Gatekeeper” Bridges MH & Ed Functions  Regular Accountability Meetings  School provides space, MH provides Therapist  Separation of School Records & MH Records  Annual Review of SBMH Commitment

 Riverbend MHC Video  Q & A School Based Mental Health Collaboration

School Based Mental Health Collaboration Contact Information: Mark Lee – MI Children’s Services Coordinator, Alabama Department of Mental Health (334) Dr. Mabrey Whetstone – Alabama Department of Education (334)