Santee School District Wins $2.7 M Grant For Behavioral Health Service

SANTEE, CA — The Santee School District was selected as one of four school districts in San Diego County to pilot the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program with the California Department of Health Care Services, according to an October news release.

The district received a $2.7 million grant award to implement various behavioral and mental health services over a three-year period through December 31, 2024.

District Superintendent Dr. Kristin Baranski discussed the program that will aid the school in providing better behavioral health services.

"Providing seed money like this allows districts to create sustainable models for behavioral health services that might otherwise be cut as state budget allocations fluctuate," Baranski said. "Being selected to pilot this program will not only enhance our behavioral health services but also provide the unique opportunity to share our model so that districts statewide can duplicate it.”

According to the release, the purpose of the SBHIP funding, according to DHCS, is to:

• Break down silos and improve coordination of child and adolescent student behavioral health services through increased communication with schools, school-affiliated programs, managed care providers, counties, and mental health providers.
• Increase the number of TK-12 students enrolled in Medi-Cal receiving behavioral health services through schools, school-affiliated providers, county behavioral health departments, and county offices of education.
• Increase non-specialty services on or near school campuses.
• Address health equity gaps, inequalities, and disparities in access to behavioral health services.

Member Barbara Ryan, a representative of the Board of Education, shared how the district administration has been pursuing this grant over the past year.

“Across the nation, we have seen a rise in youth mental health concerns, and this grant will help us enhance access to vital behavioral health services for our students and families,” said Member Ryan. “Investing in mental health prevention and earlier identification will enhance learning and student wellness in our district, and I look forward to seeing how far we can take these dollars.”

The district’s participation in this program will help create a sustainable model for behavioral and mental health services state-wide, they said. To learn more about the SBHIP, click here.