School-Based Mental Health Task Force (language only)

Item 33 #1c

Language

Page 20, after line 42, insert:

"The Behavioral Health Commission shall conduct a study of how to maximize school-based mental health services across the Commonwealth. The Commission shall form a task force of local school administrators, school-based mental health professions, community-based mental health professionals in public and private settings, teachers, students, and parents as well as relevant stakeholders from the Departments of Medical Assistance Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and Education to evaluate the current reach of school-based mental health services and to identify strategies to connect mental health clinical interventions (Tier 2 and Tier 3) to school settings. The Commission shall consider opportunities to align Medicaid-funded behavioral health services included in Project BRAVO and school-initiated services that will be newly eligible under the “free care rule” implementation. In addition the Commission shall provide relevant information related to the role of qualified mental health professionals eligible to provide these services and opportunities to identify where they can be appropriately included and compensated to meet student mental health needs. Other initiatives, such as youth peer support specialists, recovery high schools, and school-based health centers shall be included as well. The Commission shall make recommendations about strategies to implement and expand school-based mental health services by December 1, 2023."