In an effort to expand preventative mental health services at school sites, California introduced the Wellness Coach Certification. This certification allows for billing of preventive mental health services, increasing capacity, and affordability. This is all made possible through funding from the California Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI).

Many grants and funding sources that became available during COVID have now run out. School districts are looking for new ways to maintain preventative mental health services at their school sites. CHS recognized the Wellness Coach Certification as an opportunity to support the continuity of services. It enables us to help our partners by billing for services through the Student Assistance Program (SAP). Currently, 75 out of 107 employees in the Youth Services Department have received their Wellness Coach Certification.

Student Assistance Specialists (SAS) provide short-term education, prevention and intervention services to students K-12 dealing with common topics such as anxiety, family issues, and anger management. SAP services are essential at school sites, preventing youth from needing more intervention in the future. Last fiscal year, SAP served 4,993 students across 68 school sites throughout Stanislaus County. The Wellness Coach Certification supports the work that SAP has done for the past 40 years. What Wellness Coaches are doing is identical to what Student Assistance Specialists do. With the certification, the state has now made it possible for CHS to bill for some of those services.

The partnership between Youth Services and school districts is longstanding and prioritizes providing services at no cost to as many students as possible. SAP services are currently available in 13 school districts in the county. A school staff member shares, “Having Center for Human Services staff at our high school is so beneficial to our students. Having mental health services offered at no cost to students while they are here on campus is imperative.” SAP services provide on-campus support to students, ensuring they have access to resources and guidance while at school.

As the need for preventative services at school sites is on the rise, CHS continues to respond by being innovative and finding new sources of funding that will ensure that SAP services are available for generations to come. The Wellness Coach Certification supports that goal. Liz Elizondo, Youth Services Director, states, “We are focusing on the health and well-being of children and sustainability of funding, so the SAP program doesn’t go anywhere.”

To learn more about services available near you, contact your local school site.

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