Funding city school system

The federal and state governments have presented a number of opportunities to integrate school-based mental health systems into a communitywide system of care, even if these programs and funding sources were not developed specifically for that purpose. For example, the ss-hs programs funded by a consortia of federal agencies attempt to increase the coordination of care for many of America s children. Four federal departments— Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Justice—collaborate to fund projects entitled Safe Schools, Healthy Students (ss-hs) projects in over 80 communities across the coimtry. In the ss-hs project in Baltimore, the Baltimore City Public School System (bcpss) collaborates with the Baltimore Mental Health Systems, Baltimore City Police Department, Mayor s... 

This chapter suggests ways to think about school-based services from a system of care perspective. We first present six principles associated with the system of care approach and suggest ways in which mental health professionals working with and in schools might apply these principles to their work. We then provide an overview of the different types of services mental health clinicians might help provide within the school setting. As an example of a system of care approach, we then present a description of the school-based services provided within the Safe Schools, Healthy Students (ss-hs) project in Baltimore City. We conclude this chapter by suggesting ways in which to fund the system of care approach. 

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