El Monte Union outlines CYBHI plan: $1.1M implementation, Medi-Cal billing and on-site therapy interns

At a detailed presentation on May 6, wellness lead Mr. Leon described El Monte Union's first-year implementation of the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), an implementation grant the district said totals $1,100,000 to be used over three years.

Leon said existing district wellness centers recorded 15,295 sign-ins (the presenter noted a visitor-registry flaw and a possible adjusted figure near 20,000), 3,878 wellness breaks and 56 Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale risk assessments this year, with 47 leading to crisis-response team interventions. He described technical steps taken to support future billing: implementing TAD Health (electronic records), updating a data-usage agreement with the state to allow secure access to medical insurance information, piloting a wellness-coach role that can be billable, partnering with Azusa Pacific University for intern supervision, and seeking an anticipated—but not guaranteed—reimbursement of roughly $150,000 based on documented qualifying services. Leon emphasized parental consent and data privacy as prerequisites for billing and said the CYBHI funding will initially support the mental health services coordinator position for three years and seed a strategy to make services sustainable via reimbursement.

Trustees asked about parental consent barriers, billing mechanics (including private-insurance reimbursement routed through state systems), the credentialing of staff who will supervise interns, and long-term sustainability once grant funds expire. Leon said the plan depends on successful Medi-Cal/private-insurance billing and community education on consent; he noted the district will continue to consult county and vendor partners and bring implementation updates to the board.