Spokane County reports expanded in-school wellness screenings, plans funding review in January

Spokane County officials on Oct. 7 reported significant year-over-year growth in the county's In-School Wellness (ISW) program, saying screenings rose from 679 to 1,003 during the 2024–25 school year and that treatment contacts and engagement supports also increased.

Josh Henderson, Youth and Adolescent Program Administrator with the Community Services Department, said the program expanded access and reduced staffing barriers at participating schools. "Target goals of screening more than 1,000 students across participating schools and reducing staffing barriers were significant achievements reflective of the program success," Henderson said.

County staff framed ISW as an upstream prevention program that embeds clinicians in schools to screen students and provide short-term supports, make community referrals and connect young people with ongoing care. Katie Bryce, adult programs administrator with the Community Services Department, said clinicians made more than 1,500 treatment contacts, delivered over 500 engagement supports and made 117 referrals to community services during the year.

Bryce said 84% of students screened were not receiving behavioral-health services before ISW, and that school-embedded services increase access: "Research shows students are 6 times more likely to receive behavioral health support when offered at school." She added that schools adapted ISW with peer groups such as Tea and Talk Tuesdays, healthy-relationships programming and mindfulness groups.

Commissioners and staff discussed program sustainability and summer coverage. Henderson and Bryce said Spokane Public Schools staff provide year-round availability in some districts, and the county uses a mix of Medicaid and non-Medicaid funds to pay for services for students who are not Medicaid-eligible.

County staff said the Board previously allocated funds for 2026 but that officials will revisit long-term staffing and cost projections on Jan. 1, 2026, before proposing additional school additions. Henderson said cross-training clinicians and scheduling second clinicians for screening can expand capacity without proportionally increasing cost, but added that adding larger schools will require careful staffing and funding decisions.

Commissioners asked staff to pursue state-level funding options. Henderson said the county will prepare conservative estimates of potential state savings and present a legislative request asking the state to help fund school-based behavioral-health screening and early intervention.

Staff signaled plans to return with a more detailed budget and expansion plan in January 2026; until then the program will continue under existing contracts and funding for the current school year.

Ending: County staff said they will monitor ISW outcomes and return to the board with staffing and funding options early next year.