Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mental Health Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local provider tells board school‑based counseling serves 150+ students; funding uncertainty remains
Summary
A county vendor described its school‑based counseling program, which serves about 152 students across three schools; board members pressed for funding stability and evaluation data.
A local mental‑health provider told the Prince Edward County School Board on Tuesday that its school‑based counseling program currently serves roughly 152 students across the district’s three schools and that funding uncertainty makes long‑term staffing difficult.
Lehi Enge, representing the local firm, said the provider operates full‑time license‑eligible counselors in each school and a roving part‑time counselor whose schedule was adjusted to meet high demand at the high school. "We're serving about 152 kids," Enge said, and the model is designed to triage students so some are seen as needed, others weekly, depending on need.
Enge described the program as distinct from Medicaid‑reimbursed models: services are not billed to Medicaid or insurance; schools refer students and the provider secures parental consent and provides monthly reports to the district. "Your school system can refer any kid for any reason. It's not insurance based," Enge said.
Board members and the provider discussed program outcomes and continuity. The vendor reported that it conducts basic pre‑/post‑assessments and collects discipline and behavior indicators; staff said the data show improvement in several cases but acknowledged the measures are still somewhat anecdotal. The board asked for clearer, more consistent outcome data tied to services.
A recurring concern was program continuity. Enge said state funding for the pilot has been inconsistent and that while the governor's proposed budget includes $15 million for school‑based mental health, providers and districts cannot yet rely on that funding. "That money does have to be spent by September thirtieth of 2025... where schools are in Prince Edward is in the same boat," Enge said, describing the difficulty of retaining counselors without stable, long‑term funding.
Board members expressed support for continuing the program and asked the vendor and district staff to pursue sustained funding sources. District staff said they will continue coordinating with the vendor and report back on outcomes and funding options.
