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Designated agencies expanding school‑based clinicians but coverage and staffing vary by county
Summary
Presenters said designated agencies provide services in more than 60% of schools statewide and that some agencies have increased school staffing, while others report unfilled referrals and persistent hiring challenges.
Agency leaders told legislators that school‑based services are expanding in many parts of Vermont, but experience varies by region depending on staffing and funding.
Melanie Gidney of Clara Martin Center said the center has increased school clinicians and behavioral specialists and has been able to fill more positions in the past two years, reporting “exponential” growth in school contracts for her catchment. “We are at our highest level of clinicians in the schools,” she said, noting additions of BCBAs and master’s‑level clinicians.
Panelists said their work places staff in many schools: presenters described being in “over 60% of the schools” in the state, though they said local variation is substantial. Heidi Paul, identified as CFO of Washington County Mental Health Services, said her area faces “extreme staffing” pressure with about 30 unfilled school referrals and more limited hiring success than other regions.
Speakers said Success Beyond 6 funding and ESSER COVID funds helped expand school services but noted ESSER is ending and school budgets are changing. Agencies described efforts to contract directly with districts, leverage Medicaid drawdown where possible, and provide year‑round family‑system supports rather than only 9‑month coverage tied to the school year.
Ending: Providers asked for continued collaboration on funding mechanisms and workforce strategies so school‑based supports can be sustained as temporary pandemic funding sunsets.
