Minutes 04-28-2022 School Boards

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11 that there is a 504 medical coordinator and a mental health case management coordinator. She said they are providing more funding to lead school counselors and social workers that are helping at a district level. She said they are trying to support teacher and staff needs because they are incredibly taxed so they are providing additional work days when possible. Will Dudenhausen invited any questions or comments. Commissioner Fowler said she has felt the increase in mental health needs as a pediatrician. She said if she refers to a therapist/psychiatrist, there is a months-long wait, so there are few resources and options. She said there are not many options available. She said that she is extremely thankful for the fact the schools have involved themselves in addressing this need. She asked if CHCCS is planning to contract out for mental health providers. Riza Jenkins said there are challenges in finding mental health professionals. She said that contracting out is a temporary solution. She said that they are still trying to fill positions where there are gaps. Commissioner Fowler said this is a difficult problem with no easy solution. Rani Dasi said there is a national effort to fund mental health services in schools, but there is a problem with the supply chain and availability of labor. She said that as a country there is a need to invest in earlier stages to provide the support. She said they are trying to find the help but it is challenging. Commissioner Greene said this is a problem that is nation-wide because so many of the systems in place are failing students, and it is failing teachers and school staff. She said that she is grateful for the work they are doing. She said there is a need to support the schools. Chair Price asked how schools anticipate funding these mental health professional positions. Rani Dasi said they start by requesting local funding because the state will likely take longer to acknowledge this as an issue to be addressed in the budget. She said that Gov. Cooper has talked and done some work around this but not to the extent needed. Dr. Felder said some funding comes through state allocation, but it is typically not enough. She said some funding comes from local funds and some funds from Exceptional Children. Chair Price asked if going forward the schools will rely on money provided locally. Dr. Felder said yes. Rani Dasi said interviews have been conducted for the positions, and the RFP for contracted services is being done as a backup. She said there are six diverse applicants that have been interviewed. She said all of the funding provided last year was used for mental health. Commissioner Bedford said Orange County changed Managed Care Organizations (MCO) on December 1, 2021. She encouraged people to call the Alliance hotline for support services. She asked them to report to the Board if they hear the hotline is unresponsive. She said she mentioned at school collaboration that they are at the point of trying to find provider for the crisis diversion center and they have reached out to RHA, the provider of the crisis diversion center in Asheville, and because of needs of the needs of children, they have put serving everyone age four and above back in the model for the crisis diversion facility. She said that they will be engaging with the schools at a future time and asked them to send anyone that they know of that might be interested in providing services their way. Bonnie Hauser asked how to make sure families without access to medical care have a place to go and someone to reach out to when they need help. She said schools see the need and asked how schools and social services can work together on families that they both serve. She said that the Family Success Alliance is doing cool stuff and asked how they can continue to work together.