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Committee delays transfer of school-based behavioral health to DC Health, requires detailed improvement plan
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Summary
After citing persistent management and clinician-fill problems at the Department of Behavioral Health, the Committee on Health required DBH to submit a detailed improvement plan by Oct. 15, 2025 and postponed any transfer of school-based mental-health services to DC Health until progress is demonstrated.
The Committee on Health on Monday signaled it will withhold an immediate transfer of the school-based behavioral health program from the Department of Behavioral Health to DC Health and instead required DBH to submit a comprehensive improvement plan by Oct. 15, 2025.
Chair Christina Henderson said the program has suffered from ‘‘persistent challenges’’ — including grant management problems, unfilled clinician positions and difficulties integrating community-based organization providers into school settings — and that the committee considered moving the program after three years of oversight. Henderson said DBH Director Dr. Barbara Bazaron submitted a letter recently outlining planned improvements and that the committee will ‘‘give them time’’ to follow through, but she warned: "If we don't see movement, I will recommend that we move it in FY27."
Under the BSA subtitle the committee approved, DBH must produce a detailed October report covering staffing, retention, budget models, contracting vs. in-house operation and whether each school requires a DBH-funded clinician. The subtitle also requires DBH to award community-based-organization grants at a rate of at least $120,000 per school intended to address retention and service quality.
Several councilmembers praised the committee’s oversight approach while urging prompt implementation of improvements. The committee said it will maintain active oversight and will revisit the question of a transfer to DC Health if DBH does not meet the plan’s commitments.
