[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6314845,"mediaKeyId","2382313-fed7ca5d14bbf5224eabc51754e05c68","parentId",2382313,"title","County, MCPS and DHHS describe expanded school‑based mental‑health supports; officials point to data needs and budget pressures","audioSeconds",8058,"startMs",1867000,"endMs",9925000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2382313-fed7ca5d14bbf5224eabc51754e05c68&start=1867&end=9925","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2382313-fed7ca5d14bbf5224eabc51754e05c68/thumbnail_1867000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6314845/Montgomery-County/Maryland/County-MCPS-and-DHHS-describe-expanded-schoolbased-mentalhealth-supports-officials-point-to-data-needs-and-budget-pressures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314845-8be9b56995ae861390506c14a383e259/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161381&Signature=d-xnRHX~Lckg0IysrJCipoE4DpSKtIQPWhXWj9RQ2fuX6A~2zy8ANnyiavL1YYQuUzK-dif8SJbQu7nJqvGMh43Nvd26tquM4UUjBwBb77BH~HHSe9gTwbaw6MKK1pVt9xYo2G1hZWEZCVys29fQXr3vxioPSBKYEsiSBTGHvwSvBpG4BMWbb3Bb8Etqu7XYw3Q0d4wOfvAE5W2lY58CKGV0ygcNLbXr79m0JxTjVogUvCF9vxg8aRfT-~CicjPXn--OkPotylPWD2y6WR91QocfbcUvL4EwCFWDCsL4C33UMoH6knUvqGpq-M2A7QUhNY5JgrGJDT5dWev8R01MRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-02-21T20:23:39Z","article","Montgomery County Public Schools and County Department of Health and Human Services officials told the County Council’s joint Education and Culture and Health and Human Services committees they have expanded school‑based mental‑health supports since the pandemic but that staffing, data and funding gaps remain.

The discussion covered the district’s student well‑being teams, a 42‑social‑worker program that serves 51 schools, Bridge to Wellness services in 19 high schools, six high‑school wellness centers and a range of partner contracts. Council members pressed staff on coverage gaps, evaluation methods linking mental‑health services to academic outcomes, cultural competency and how the district will sustain services when temporary federal funds expire.

Damon Motziloni, associate superintendent for the Office of Well‑Being and Student Services, described an “integrated mental health framework” that routes referrals through school‑level student well‑being teams and matches students to tiered supports. He said student well‑being teams — formed early in the pandemic to locate unengaged students — now operate as a hub for school‑level triage and coordination and include pupil personnel workers, school psychologists, social workers, counselors and other school staff.

MCPS and partner data presented to the committees: more than 1,100 direct referrals to date this school year; 549 students served by well‑being social workers and 507 served by Bridge to Wellness programs; 13 students served through private insurance; and 29 students who were referred declined services. MCPS said students identifying as female account for roughly 60% of social‑work clients; 42% of social‑work clients identify as Hispanic/Latino and about 31% as Black. The district reported that 32% of its social workers are bilingual, primarily Spanish.

Officials emphasized progress: MCPS said its social‑work unit has no vacancies and has grown with ESSER and other funding streams; the district also highlighted partnerships with nonprofit providers (Jessa, Thrive Behavioral Health, Shepherd Pratt and others) that extend services into schools described as mental‑health “deserts.” The JED Foundation, a national nonprofit, is working with the district to map services and build an annual accountability framework; MCPS said it will pilot a mental‑health screener this school year in 52 schools (grades 4, 7 and 10) and hopes to expand to all schools next year.

Committee members repeatedly raised implementation gaps. Councilmember Lukey described student reports of dispenser misuse and of students unwilling to seek help through building services; members pushed for student‑friendly feedback channels and greater clarity on which schools have which services. Several councilmembers asked for a clear list — by school — of which sites host wellness centers, Bridge to Wellness teams, linkages to learning, social workers or other services.

Officials also discussed sustainability: many positions were initially funded with federal ESSER dollars; the district said it has worked to move some staff onto the local base budget but that maintaining expanded services remains a budget challenge. Staff noted barriers to service delivery including workforce shortages, cultural and language competency gaps, parental consent processes and logistical constraints such as transportation. The Joint Committee asked for follow‑up on those gaps and for more analysis tying services to academic measures.

Councilmembers and staff identified several next steps rather than taking formal votes: MCPS and DHHS will provide an updated, school‑by‑school inventory of services; follow up with additional data requested by the Committees (including pre‑/post‑measures used by social workers and outcome analysis the Office of Student Accountability produced); clarify plans for the pilot mental‑health screener and for Medicaid billing readiness; and continue coordination with the JED Foundation and community partners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Feb. 24, 2025 - EC/HHS Joint Committee Worksession","oneSentenceSummary","MCPS and the Department of Health and Human Services updated a joint County Council committee on school‑based wellness: social work staffing and wellness centers have expanded, more students are being served, and the district and partners flagged needs for better tier‑1 services, student feedback, evaluation metrics and sustainable funding.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6314849,"Montgomery County schools say menstrual product dispensers installed; questions remain on feedback, reimbursement and gender‑neutral restrooms",1350,498000,1848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2382313-fed7ca5d14bbf5224eabc51754e05c68&start=498&end=1848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2382313-fed7ca5d14bbf5224eabc51754e05c68/thumbnail_498000.jpg","/articles/6314849/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-County-schools-say-menstrual-product-dispensers-installed-questions-remain-on-feedback-reimbursement-and-genderneutral-restrooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6314849-4d71942f473a958a6f99d6cf044bd7f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161381&Signature=aFj3P8TUV-YPfumZnhVdfjb~QXzC7oIQRumoYMccH0a9oc8KYU8cXVouls4451aDPBFjJO~UwAch2mkmpPde77mJfw8Xj38Pm~04x18izmEWAbtEWiDOGZ~3clmDBXYOfooMLE7V9BYqPoH6YZrU8LUOBGswMd7RoU1A2F6EyRqrzQ9Z4hA4Z052jQWDCwSQPSEq0VRUgBh2Dz9TtjNgj9rUIRNS~Cc3m3le777hBiB5u5A6JmywlJoDAOBcS08eHmzTCbv3BKBYCF3k9iUcyyR-H2R9aLKWIxNQIKW-6ncL-gri0VSsEGDFmPOO9CW8-UmXCqQBE7BdtdVCayPnHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County Public Schools officials told a joint meeting of the County Council’s Education and Culture Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee that they have installed menstrual hygiene product dispensers required by Maryland law but will return with follow‑up information on reimbursements, student feedback and dispenser access in gender‑neutral restrooms.

The update matters because Maryland Senate Bill 427, which took effect July 1, 2021, requires local boards of education to provide menstrual products in school restrooms at no charge. Committee members pressed MCPS staff on usage data, vending‑station QR codes and how the district is preventing misuse and ensuring access to all students who need products.

MCPS representative Mr. Mamoon told the committees that the district “has definitely met the April original guideline for 1 menstrual product dispenser in every elementary school as well as 2 in the middle and high schools.” He reported specific installation counts of 275 dispensers in middle‑school restrooms and 267 in high‑school restrooms and said every elementary school has at least one dispenser. He also said the district has received about $93,324 from the State for reimbursement but did not have a full accounting in the meeting for what purchases that covered.

Council staff summarized the state’s deadlines under SB 427: by Oct. 1, 2022 districts were required to install the initial dispensers in the number and locations specified; and by Aug. 1, 2025 dispensers must be installed in all secondary‑school women’s restrooms within a district. The staff memo also noted reimbursements tied to fiscal years (initial reimbursement claimable in FY23, and another reimbursement period ending Sept. 1, 2025, for FY26) and that ongoing product supply will be an operating expense for MCPS.

Committee members asked several operational and equity questions. Councilmember Lukey described repeated reports from students about vandalism and misuse — “Some people take them and just keep them. Others take them and … it’s essentially vandalism and abuse,” she said — and urged MCPS to consider how dispensers fit with education and school culture so students understand the purpose of the program. MCPS staff said restocking is performed weekly and that building services conducts routine inspections, but acknowledged some misuse has occurred and that schools are adjusting restocking frequency based on need.

Several members pressed for a student‑facing feedback channel so users can report an empty dispenser without needing to contact an adult. Mr. Mamoon said the dispensers will be QR coded so building services can identify location and product for restocking; he said about 35 schools in the Upcounty area still need QR labels and that the district is reviewing whether QR codes will route to an administrative form or a student‑accessible reporting page. Councilmembers suggested a simple Google form might be appropriate for students.

Members also asked whether dispensers installed in gender‑neutral restrooms meet the state law’s requirement to place products in “women’s restrooms,” and whether reimbursement requests to the state included work in converted gender‑neutral stalls. MCPS said it will review reimbursement submissions and confirm whether eligible work in gender‑neutral restrooms was included in claims already filed.

No formal action or vote took place during the discussion. MCPS agreed to provide written follow‑up to the Council office with detailed counts, clarification on the $93,324 reimbursement and the district’s plan for QR codes and any student‑facing feedback tool.

The committee scheduled additional follow‑up rather than taking any vote; members emphasized implementation that preserves student privacy and that considers gender‑inclusive restroom users in access planning.","MCPS told a joint County Council committee it has met state installation requirements for menstrual hygiene dispensers in elementary, middle and high schools but has outstanding questions about student feedback systems, reimbursements and coverage for gender‑neutral restrooms.","actionData","errors"]

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County, MCPS and DHHS describe expanded school‑based mental‑health supports; officials point to data needs and budget pressures

Montgomery County schools say menstrual product dispensers installed; questions remain on feedback, reimbursement and gender‑neutral restrooms