Chautauqua County committee approves county mental-health staff to provide supervision, trainings in public schools

The Chautauqua County Human Services Committee voted Sept. 17 to authorize the county Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services to provide clinical supervision and mental-health-related trainings to public school staff and, where appropriate, school-based clinicians.

The measure — brought by Trish MacLennan, deputy director of the county Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services — creates a countywide approval for schools that request help with clinical supervision or trainings such as suicide prevention, substance-use prevention and staff wellness. MacLennan told the committee the resolution does not create a payment relationship: "This is not a resolution for those therapists that we put in the school that we end up, as part of our clinic, as an off-site that we bill for. So there's no money exchange in this."

The nut graf: Committee members described the measure as a way to fill gaps in workforce and supervision for smaller districts that cannot provide licensed clinical supervision in-house. Supporters said the arrangement is intended to be governed by memoranda of understanding that would clarify responsibilities and limit county liability.

County staff described how the program would operate. Rachel Ludwig, a licensed clinical social worker with the department, already supervises county clinicians and provides trainings. MacLennan said public-school placements vary: some districts hire their own counselors, some have county clinicians two days a week, and others have no licensed supervisor on site. The resolution would allow county-licensed clinicians to provide supervision when the superintendent and involved clinicians agree and an appropriate MOU is in place. "We're not responsible for the care of the kids. School is. The therapist is," MacLennan said, explaining the intended limits of county responsibility.

Committee members asked how cases with safety concerns would be handled. MacLennan described referral pathways to county clinics and to specialized providers (including telehealth or in-person psychiatric services). She also described a local threat-assessment program coordinated with the sheriff's office and regional partners that can be used when a student poses an elevated risk of violence. "If it's looking like this person might really be a risk for literally killing someone...this can get referred to [the threat assessment team]," she said, crediting the sheriff's office for the program.

The committee chair asked whether schools are required by the state to provide counseling services; MacLennan replied schools must provide certain counseling through individualized education program requirements but are not required to hire licensed therapists. County staff said the department already provides training through existing initiatives such as Tapestry-grant-funded curricula and partners with superintendents to tailor services.

The vote was taken by voice and the motion carried. The resolution includes language that supervision and trainings will proceed only when appropriate to the clinician, superintendent and county capacity and when clearly spelled out in agreements.

Looking ahead, officials said the policy aims to reduce barriers for clinicians seeking licensure by allowing supervision to occur in-school and to help smaller districts that cannot sustain full-time licensed staff.

Ending note: Committee members thanked staff for the proposal and emphasized the county's role in supporting schools where local capacity is limited.