SB 245

In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 biennium, this bill requires the Department of Health Services to distribute an amount determined by the secretary of health services to a provider to operate a school-centered mental health program in two schools in this state for two school years; one school must be located in a rural school district and one school must be located in a suburban or urban school district. Under the bill, the provider must use the money to support full-time therapist positions, family coach positions, and any other positions necessary to operate the school-centered mental health program. Under the bill, a school-centered mental health program is a program that meets various criteria, including that it serve at-risk pupils and families at school, at home, and in the community, serve pupils and families year-round, include classroom observations and pupil-specific behavior intervention, include evidence-based individual or family therapy, and provide family coaching that is aligned with therapeutic goals. Finally, the bill requires the provider who receives money from DHS to submit a report to DHS on the impact of the school-centered mental health program on pupils and families by six months after the end of the program, and requires DHS to distribute the report to the legislature.