Background:

The development and expansion of school based mental health services and programs are often dependent on state and federal grant opportunities that are time-limited and categorical. More local, state and federal supports for school mental health are likely to come from amendments to public and private insurance plans, federal and state entitlements, as well as implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Substance Abuse Equity Act of 2009. A goal of our planning grant is to identify current programs and policies that support the number, quality, and sustainability of school mental health programs and services and explore opportunities for building on this base.

To increase knowledge of the federal, state and local policies and programs that support or limit school mental health programs, we will examine the implications of laws, regulations, and implementing policies that impact the organization and finance of school-connected mental health.

Forum Objectives:

• Identify current school mental health programs and policies that support school mental health
• Explore opportunities for building on this base of programs
• Increase knowledge of the federal, state and local policies and programs that support or limit school mental health programs

The hosts for this forum are Wendy Yallowitz with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Olga Price with the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools. As hosts, they'll follow the general conversations threads and respond to participants’ posts and comments.

Joining them as discussion ambassadors are Evelyn Frankford, Victor Young, Kate Keller and Paul Flaspohler.

The forum moderator is Stephen Hammill of Prichard Communications. You can contact him with any technical questions or issues by emailing stephen@prichardcommunications.com.