MOSAIC Counseling urges expansion of school-based outreach, highlights rapid access and veteran services

Sarah Lewikowski, executive director of MOSAIC Counseling, told the Families, Children and Seniors Committee that the agency’s school outreach program places contracted therapists directly in schools and can start students in counseling "within a week or 2." Lewikowski said the model removes common barriers to care and that "we don't turn anyone away."

Mosaic’s model, Lewikowski said, relies on a centralized intake and a panel of private-practice clinicians. "We have 270 therapists on our panel," she said, and the agency operates with a small central staff — "10 staff and 3 interns." Lewikowski said 56 of the panel therapists have expertise serving veterans and that seven panel clinicians are veterans themselves. She also said MOSAIC works with two psychiatrists to provide limited medication management when needed.

Why it matters: committee members pressed on access, outcomes and funding during a question-and-answer period. Rep. Johnson asked about parental consent and benchmarks of success;…