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Ozark R-VI board hears Centerstone proposal for school-based mental-health services
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Summary
Centerstone presented a three-tier, school-based mental-health model to the Ozark R-VI board, emphasizing on-site therapists and support specialists, year-round services, and outcome reporting; board members pressed on parental consent, medication access and limited space in district buildings.
The Ozark R-VI Board of Education heard a presentation from Centerstone proposing a school-based mental-health partnership that would place embedded therapists and support specialists in district schools at no cost to the district.
The proposal, which the district said came through a formal RFP process and was recommended unanimously by a review team of administrators and counselors, follows a three-tier model aligned with multi-tiered systems of support: universal, schoolwide supports (tier 1); targeted short-term group interventions (tier 2); and individualized one-on-one clinical care (tier 3). "All of the national data indicates that 80 percent of kids who ever receive a mental health intervention in their life are going to do so in a school setting," said Katie Couch, a fourth-grade teacher who spoke in support of increasing school-based services.
Centerstone representatives described operational details including typical session lengths, staffing ratios and reporting. The presenters said school-based support specialists generally serve smaller caseloads while licensed therapists see higher-acuity students; the organization aims to provide regular outcome reporting to the district at the end of each school year. A Centerstone representative said the providers are "not 24/7, but we do have that 90 day crisis line" to support urgent needs outside normal hours.
Board members asked how parental consent, documentation and medication-management access would be handled. A presenter said Centerstone requires parental consent for services and uses an electronic records system to store documentation; the organization said it would assist families in connecting to psychiatric services when medication is clinically indicated. The board emphasized that medication would be a last resort and asked that nonpharmacological interventions be prioritized.
Administrators and Centerstone staff discussed logistics. Centerstone said the program can bill Medicaid, accept sliding-scale and commercial insurance, and pursue grants to support services; the only district requirement is appropriate private space in school buildings (the presenters repeatedly said the space must be a room with four walls, not a closet). The district noted that space is tight and that final placement would be worked out over the summer as buildings are planned for next year.
The presentation closed with the district thanking the review team of counselors, principals and social workers that evaluated proposals and a reminder that the board will receive additional materials and a chance to vote on any contract at a later meeting.
