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Santa Cruz COE lays out plan to open wellness centers at most high schools to expand student behavioral health access
Summary
County Office of Education staff described a multi‑year rollout of school wellness centers funded by grants and a congressional earmark, with plans for six of eight comprehensive high‑school centers to be operating by the end of the school year and a billing model to improve long‑term sustainability.
Superintendent Scott opened a presentation on the COE’s effort to build an "ecosystem of care" around school‑based wellness centers and introduced executive director Michael Painter, school climate and wellness manager Haley Newman and director of behavioral health Lauren Fine. Painter said the program began in 2022 with a goal to scale school‑based services and that the COE used a mix of federal earmarks and a CDE CalWell subgrant to launch the work.
"That means 80 kids seriously considered attempting suicide from this sample about a year ago across the county," Michael Painter said, citing the California Healthy Kids survey results the team reviewed for trustees. Presenters described a three‑tier model: universal prevention and education (Tier 1), group and brief supports including "brain breaks" (Tier 2), and individualized clinical care (Tier 3). Haley Newman said the planning cohort began small and grew; by 2025 the COE had ribbon cuttings and county tours, and "at the end of this school year, we will have 6 wellness centers open out of our 8 comprehensive high schools."
On sustainability, Lauren Fine explained the county is pursuing a school‑linked multi‑payer fee schedule so school sites can bill insurance for eligible services and help fund staff positions. Trustees asked about expansion to middle and elementary schools; the presenters said the initial focus intentionally prioritized high‑school intervention while acknowledging an eventual expansion or different models for younger students.
Trustees asked how data collection and student input would be handled. Presenters said schools are already collecting usage and outreach metrics and that student wellness advisory councils inform design and aesthetics. The COE noted evaluator partnerships (UCSF) and state reporting tied to the CalWell grant would produce more formal outcome data in the coming year. The board did not take formal action on this item; staff recommended continued implementation and further reporting.
