Board Approves Supervisor Barger’s Motion to Expand Mental Health Services in Schools

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, coauthored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Sept. 16, to explore expanding the Community School Initiative.

Supervisor Barger said as students return to school full time, this is a critical time to expand onsite mental health services to ensure youth can thrive both in the classroom and in daily life.

The program has been implemented at 15 school sites, including an additional 10 regional teams comprised of 45 total members who are deployed countywide. This motion seeks to sustain the initiative and identify communities and school districts with a high need for mental health services where the county can expand the program. 

Initially passed in January 2019, the initiative fostered collaboration between the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Los Angeles County Office of Education to provide access to mental health services. The initiative was then expanded in April 2019 to implement prevention-focused mental health services.

Supervisor Holly Mitchell added an amendment to the motion that includes the Los Angeles Unified School District in the expansion of the program.

Click here for Supervisor Barger’s motion.