Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mental Health Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Anaheim Elementary highlights decade of growth in school-based mental-health services
Summary
District leaders and partner Villages of California detailed an expanded integrated clinical model that embeds school- and community-based clinicians at all 23 sites, described billing progress through CBHI and said services are available regardless of insurance status.
Anaheim — District leaders on April 8 described a decade-long expansion of school-based mental-health supports that now includes a school-based clinician at every site and community-based clinicians to connect families with services.
"We moved from a very traditional referring the students out for mental health to embedding the clinical model into the school setting," Dr. Yadira Moreno, assistant superintendent of educational services, told the board. The integrated model pairs school-based clinicians who provide psychotherapy, assessment and classroom support with community-based clinicians who handle case management and help families access basic needs and external appointments.
The presentation, led by Moreno and program leads Shirley Diaz and Javvana Sanguinetti of partner Villages of California, said the district’s model is built on three pillars: real-time presence on campus (clinicians working during lunch and recess), crisis response and warm handoffs to community resources. Sanguinetti said clinicians are often registered associates or fully licensed staff and that the program maintains accreditation standards and clinical oversight.
Trustee questions focused on caseloads, documentation and the path to higher levels of care. "We tell our community schools clinicians they should have anywhere from 15 to 25 (cases)," Diaz said, adding staff will pull additional resources if a site reaches capacity. On documentation, staff said interventions are tracked within MTSS and that student supports can be recorded in behavior-action plans, 504 plans, IEPs or other treatment plans depending on need.
The district also reviewed reimbursement through California’s children’s behavioral health initiatives. Moreno said AESD submitted roughly 17,000 claims last year and received about $800,000 in reimbursements; in the current year the district has entered roughly 40,000 claims, though final reimbursement is still being processed. "Services are provided regardless of whether families provide insurance information," Moreno stated, adding the district emphasizes building rapport first and pursuing insurance details later.
Board members sought clarity on warm handoffs and family supports; Villages staff said referrals routinely include assistance with scheduling, language translation and transportation. Superintendent Jesus Chavaria noted the district cannot directly give public funds to families but will connect them to vouchers, legal clinics and community partners for rent, food and other crisis needs.
The district announced an upcoming Mental Health Awareness event on April 30 at Pearson Park that will pair student performances with a mental-health resource fair.
The board did not take an action item on the presentation; members praised the program and requested continued reporting on caseloads, outcomes and billing figures.
