OC Health Provider To Combat Mental Health Crisis In Schools

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Schools across Orange County will get a boost to their mental health services for students, as CalOptima Health enters into agreements with county school districts to improve access to mental health services at schools.

CalOptima will administer up to $25 million in incentives for school districts who agree to be a part of the program. The incentive dollars are designed to pay for the full implementation of vital new resources at the schools by placing more counselors, wellness programs, telehealth services, crisis screenings and other programs, according to a CalOptima Health news release.

According to a brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 45 percent of California youth between the ages of 12 and 17 report having recently struggled with mental health issues, with nearly a third of them experiences serious psychological issues that could interfere with academic and social functions.

“The consequences of unaddressed mental health conditions in children often extend into adulthood,” CalOptima Health CEO Michael Hunn said in a statement. “Due to the pandemic, there has been a staggering increase in mental health distress among our members and their families. It is imperative that we reach students where they are and provide help to prevent and treat behavioral health issues. Building school-based health care services is a solution that addresses disparities many children face in Orange County.”

As of Thursday, CalOptima said it currently has 17 schools that have expressed interest in participating with the program.

Implementation of the incentive money will start in the beginning of 2023, a news release said, with a goal to create sustainable system enhancements that stretch beyond the program's end in December 2024.