In coordination with Sacramento County school districts and schools, the Sacramento County Department of Health Services and the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) launched an initiative in 2020 to transform schools into Centers of Wellness. SCOE and the Department of Health Services have a contract extending the Federally Qualified Health Center status to schools. This allows SCOE to hire and train licensed mental health clinicians to provide direct, school-based mental health services in schools, closely partnering with districts and designated school sites. Recognizing that families face many barriers to accessing mental health care for their children, schools are uniquely positioned to meet the mental health needs of students by facilitating the provision of services at the school site, and by creating a culture of wellness for their students and families.
The vision of Schools as Centers of Wellness is to bring the education and health systems together as partners to create a continuum of care for mental health and wellness throughout Sacramento County’s education systems. To further this initiative, SCOE has developed a Career Pipeline that aims to simultaneously increase the number and diversity of mental health professionals in the mental and behavioral health field, and provide preventative and intervention services to students and families. Family and Community Health Systems Navigators are part of SCOE’s growing School-Based Mental Health and Wellness program. SCOE plans to continue increasing the number of these liaison positions at schools across the county.
Wellness Coaches to Support Students and Families
SCOE is one of 64 organizations statewide that have been selected to receive a “Certified Wellness Coach Employer Support” grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). The 18-month grant will partially fund six SCOE Family and Community Health Systems Navigator positions, increasing the capacity to support growing behavioral health needs. Serving as “wellness coach” liaisons, the staff will help families access relevant resources offered by public health agencies and educational systems.
The wellness coaches will provide key support for students and families in various settings (including at school, at home, and in conjunction with community agencies), simultaneously helping address system-wide inequities in accessing care. They will provide preventative, intervention, and support services such as:
- assisting families in identifying and accessing relevant programs, basic needs resources, community resources, and mental health services.
- supporting and assisting clients navigating county healthcare systems (including Medi-Cal enrollment and external agency referrals).
- facilitating and promoting education, training, and awareness opportunities to reduce the stigma of mental health services.
- initiating and tracking registrations for mental health and wellness services.
- creating opportunities and events that increase involvement in school and community support services.