19 AUGUST 2024Partnering with Schools to Promote and Improve Mental Wellness in Youthdelivered in schools, but not all states have applied for it. Some schools have mental health services provided within a school-based health center, but very few schools have these clinics on-site. Community partnerships and collaborations are critical to meeting the mental health needs of youth in school. Every community may have unique circumstances regarding funding, workforce, and the diversity of student needs for care. Some ways that partnerships and collaborations can occur require thought leaders from the school, parent organizations, community, and academic centers to meet in identifying the need and creating pathways for care that can be delivered at school, in the community and access to higher level resources for youth in crisis.PM Pediatric Care has become a community partner working with many school districts to innovate and provide mental health services to students through its' school partnerships. Offerings include four tiers of care that include: education, screening, and professional development; evaluation and brief intervention (6 sessions to identify issues and provide intervention and, if needed, referral for ongoing care); a crisis consultation and on-demand visit service available to schools every school day for students with escalated behaviors and psychiatric evaluations required by the school for complex medical-behavioral students. Care is provided by pediatric experts and follows measurement and evidence-based care. These partnerships also include our ability to provide ongoing care outside of school when needed, referrals for escalated circumstances, wraparound services that are communicated with both the school and medical home, telehealth, and on-site appointments available that can be accessed until 8 p.m. and Saturdays. These services are funded by grants, district funding and hopefully soon by expansion of Medicaid in schools and access to our community programs covered by health insurance.We all have a responsibility to meet the needs of our youth, and there are many ways to participate. Building partnerships and recognizing our youth spend most of their time at school just makes sense to meet students where they are and have comfort. Trusted relationships at school have proven to be one of the best indicators of a student's success. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO FINDING SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE PREVENTION EFFORTS, EARLY INTERVENTION AND USING TREATMENTS THAT ENSURE REALIZABLE AND SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES
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