School-Based Health Centers

School-Based Mental Health Program

School-Based Mental Health Program

What is a School-Based Mental Health Program?

A School-Based Mental Health Program (SBMH) is like a mental health office inside a school. SBMH offer a wide range of full, comprehensive mental health services in the school and have been providing on-site mental health services to Department of Education students for over 20 years. There are 285 SBMH programs serving NYC schools in all five boroughs. All services are private and kept confidential from the school staff.

Why Have Mental Health Programs in Schools?

Keeps issues from affecting emotional, intellectual, or physical development
Provides relief from symptoms earlier rather than later
Can prevent long-term problems
Improves school performance and personal relationships with family and friends

What Do School Mental Health Programs Offer My Child?

Identification: Children with behavioral and emotional health needs
Assessment: Assessments, Interviews and Evidence Based Evaluations
Intervention: Individual, Group, Family Therapies; and Psychiatric Evaluations
Consultation: With parents, teachers and providing crisis interventions
Facilitation: Hospitalizations and Specialty Care
Training: Parent and Teacher trainings on mental health issues

Why do School-Based Mental Health Programs Work?

Interventions are sensitive to students’ and family culture
Easy access for mental health services in communities where services are scarce
Removes the stigma for mental health services
Having programs on site allows teachers to spend more time teaching
Fewer discipline problems school-wide and distraction from class work

How Can I Get My Child Services?

Students are referred either by Parent, Teacher or Student
A Consent Form signed by parent is needed to begin services
Individual student records are kept confidential and is not shared with school staff
Programs operate school hours and often beyond for family convenience
24 hour hotline to handle problems outside of school hours
Staff are typically licensed social worker, psychologist and psychiatrist

Do I Need To Pay?

Programs do not bill parents or students for care
Parents provide insurance information and program bills them directly
If not insured, SBMH may be able to help family obtain public health insurance
Referrals to other community mental health programs can be made, if needed

List of Mental Health Program Locations (click here)

The DOE School-Based Mental Health & Behavioral Services Brochure (click here)

The Citywide Mental Health Youth Resource Flyer (click here)

About Us Academics Choices & Enrollment Schools in the Community Offices & Programs Office of School Health Rules & Policies Student Support, Safety, and Activities Student Performance & Accountability	School-Based Health Centers E-mail to a friend School-Based Mental Health Program School-Based Mental Health Program What is a School-Based Mental Health Program? A School-Based Mental Health Program (SBMH) is like a mental health office inside a school. SBMH offer a wide range of full, comprehensive mental health services in the school and have been providing on-site mental health services to Department of Education students for over 20 years. There are 285 SBMH programs serving NYC schools in all five boroughs. All services are private and kept confidential from the school staff. Why Have Mental Health Programs in Schools? Keeps issues from affecting emotional, intellectual, or physical development Provides relief from symptoms earlier rather than later Can prevent long-term problems Improves school performance and personal relationships with family and friends What Do School Mental Health Programs Offer My Child? Identification: Children with behavioral and emotional health needs Assessment: Assessments, Interviews and Evidence Based Evaluations Intervention: Individual, Group, Family Therapies; and Psychiatric Evaluations Consultation: With parents, teachers and providing crisis interventions Facilitation: Hospitalizations and Specialty Care Training: Parent and Teacher trainings on mental health issues Why do School-Based Mental Health Programs Work? Interventions are sensitive to students’ and family culture Easy access for mental health services in communities where services are scarce Removes the stigma for mental health services Having programs on site allows teachers to spend more time teaching Fewer discipline problems school-wide and distraction from class work How Can I Get My Child Services? Students are referred either by Parent, Teacher or Student A Consent Form signed by parent is needed to begin services Individual student records are kept confidential and is not shared with school staff Programs operate school hours and often beyond for family convenience 24 hour hotline to handle problems outside of school hours Staff are typically licensed social worker, psychologist and psychiatrist Do I Need To Pay? Programs do not bill parents or students for care Parents provide insurance information and program bills them directly If not insured, SBMH may be able to help family obtain public health insurance Referrals to other community mental health programs can be made, if needed List of Mental Health Program Locations (click here) The DOE School-Based Mental Health & Behavioral Services Brochure (click here) The Citywide Mental Health Youth Resource Flyer (click here)