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District highlights family-services work and first reading of county telehealth MOU to expand student behavioral health
Summary
Board recognized Family Services staff and heard a first reading of a county-funded telebehavioral-health memorandum of understanding that would give Meridian access to approximately 178 hours of telehealth referrals from a county provider; administrators said 78 students have already been connected to behavioral-health services through existing partnerships.
The Meridian School District board heard a detailed overview of the Family Services Department and held a first reading of a county memorandum of understanding to add telebehavioral-health services for students.
Superintendent Dr James introduced Family Services staff and credited them with outreach and casework that supports families across the district. "Alicia is our Family Resources coordinator; Elita is our cultural liaison for Spanish-speaking families; and Laura is our mental-health coordinator," Dr James said. He described the staff’s role in interpreting meetings, connecting families to services and organizing community resource fairs.
Family Services staff told the board that, through partnerships with the county health department and other agencies, the district has connected 78 students to behavioral-health services and provided daily interpretation in dozens of meetings. Laura Lupos, described in the materials as the district’s mental-health coordinator, compiles a monthly mental-health newsletter and coordinates training for staff on trauma response and supports in schools.
Administrators also presented a first reading of an MOU with a county-funded provider (referred to in materials as a provider named in the transcript). The MOU would allocate 1,250 countywide provider hours; the district’s approximate allocation is ~178 hours. Staff said the program would target students who lack access to in-person behavioral-health providers and that services under the agreement would be no cost to families because the county funds the provider.
Why it matters: Board members said behavioral-health supports and family outreach reduce attendance barriers and provide early intervention for students who otherwise might not receive services. Administrators emphasized that these supports complement, rather than replace, district counselors and building-based services.
Next steps: The MOU was presented as a first reading; board members asked clarifying questions and no formal vote was recorded. Staff said they will continue to work with county partners and legal counsel to finalize the agreement and implementation plans.
Provenance: Family Services overview and numbers presented in the meeting transcript; telehealth MOU described during the first-reading discussion.
