Washington, D.C.’s behavioral health agency is changing course on a 2018 commitment to place a full-time licensed mental health clinician in every public and charter school, citing staffing shortages and underperformance by contracted community providers. The revised approach began this fall and is set to be completed by the end of the 2027-2028 school year, according to a Nov. 16 report from The Washington Post.
Here are five things to know:
- Clinician assignments will now vary based on school needs. Some will be appointed a full-time clinician, while others may receive part-time support or share staff across campuses. Telehealth services will be added for high schools and adult students. Barbara Bazron, PhD, the agency’s director, said this will “ensure consistent training, quality and coordination among staff members.”
- By 2028, the agency aims to bring the school-based behavioral health program fully in-house, phasing out the dozen local nonprofits currently supplying clinicians. Dr. Bazron said the organizations have had “limited success identifying and enrolling students in treatment” and that they struggle with “insufficient billing.”
- Of 264 campuses, 158 have at least one licensed clinician, according to a Nov. 1 staffing list. Seventy schools lack an assigned clinician, and 21 positions remain unfilled.
- The plan is facing backlash from school leaders, who have said they’ve already lost clinicians. Youth advocates also criticized the lack of public input, and nonprofit partners disputed city claims that they failed to provide adequate care or billing, according to the Post.
- To meet its goal, the agency plans to add 113 full-time positions in three years. It currently employs 40 licensed clinicians, with 98 more contracted through community organizations.
