Agenda - 10-17-2017 - 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

8 1 (RFP) for co-located mental health services to provide onsite support to our students. Service 2 providers have been selected and the district is moving forward with agreements. The RFP and 3 draft agreement are included, along with an overview of co-located mental health services. 4 5 Commissioner McKee referred to the opioid crisis, and asked both districts if there has 6 been an increase in opioids in their schools. 7 Sherita Cobb, OCS Student Support Services Director, said OCS has not seen an 8 uptick, but have offered courses to OCS staff, including social workers, counselors, and nurses. 9 She presented the following information: 10 • As with any school system, OCS experiences challenges with supporting the mental 11 health needs of its students and school community. While there is much work to be 12 done in this area, students are currently supported through: 13 Contract with LCSW: Orange County Schools' contract with a Licensed Clinical Social 14 Worker. The social worker's role in the district is as follows: provide therapeutic support 15 to the 3 Special Education classes for students with behavioral concerns, provide staff 16 development for social workers and school counselors and work with students/school 17 teams on strategies for managing behavior effectively 18 • School Based Mental Health: Within the next month, OCS will enter into an MOU with a 19 new vendor partner. This provider accepts clients on Medicaid as well as some private 20 services providers (BCBS is one of insurers accepted). Additionally, this new agency 21 has providers that can provide substance abuse counseling if the district wants to 22 engage in that service as well. In addition, parents are provided a handbook with 23 comprehensive service providers and service descriptions as prepared by Mental Health 24 of America of the Triangle for Orange, Person and Chatham Counties. 25 26 Steve Halkiotis praised Ms. Cobb for the work that she does in OCS, and Ms. Gerry in 27 CHCCS, since this type of work was not done in schools years ago. 28 James Barrett said he appreciated Ms. Gerry, and all she does. 29 Commissioner Burroughs echoed support for the wrap around model of service 30 provision. She said the opioid issue is real, and while numbers are down overall, the schools 31 are still facing this issue. 32 Commissioner Price asked if the funding for mental health services is divided up in a 33 particular way. She said there is great need for these programs, and the need is likely to 34 increase. She asked if the funding sources are secure. 35 Dr. Pamela Baldwin said funding is from state and local grants, and the need is a high 36 priority for CHCCS, who will shift funds as needed to support students. She agreed that needs 37 are increasing. 38 Janet Gerry said the co-located mental health services agencies have been awarded a 39 memorandum of agreement, so there is no cost there. She said if a child has insurance of any 40 kind (private or Medicaid), the agency will bill the insurance. 41 Sherita Cobb said this is the same in OCS. 42 Janet Gerry said one out of ten students seen is a non-payment slot. 43 Commissioner Price asked if the districts feel overloaded now, and whether more staff 44 will be needed in the future. 45 Janet Gerry said there is one counselor in each elementary school, two in middle 46 schools, and four at the high school level. She said social workers and nurses likely feel 47 overloaded, but the schools are partnering with community agencies to provide the best service 48 possible.