Why Do We Need School-Based Behavioral Health?
Thousands of child behavioral health professionals and children’s hospitals across the nation declared a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health amid skyrocketing rates of negative behavioral health outcomes – such as depression, anxiety, and grief – induced by the physical, mental, social, and emotional toll of the pandemic. Black and brown children and children from low-income families, who already had far worse behavioral health outcomes prior to the pandemic, are especially vulnerable – as are their families and broader communities. Given that students spend most of their time in school, the School-Based Behavioral Health Program (SBBH) is one of DC’s best tools for improving student access to behavioral health care.
As SBBH is fully expanded to all DC public schools, we value the positive feedback provided by behavioral health clinicians so far – as well as their demonstrated impact on the well-being of children and families:
Simon Elementary School Clinician (Ward 8)
“I started working with a student in January 2020. He had a hard time expressing what was bothering him and would shut down and start crying. We have been working on learning emotions, self-regulation, coping skills, using ‘I’ statements, brainstorming solutions and picking the best solution for conflicts. He has made great improvement in our sessions, in school, and at home. His mom reported that he is able to tell her what is bothering him without shutting down and crying. We had our last session on October 28th, and he expressed that he was excited and proud of himself!”
Jefferson Middle School Academy Clinician (Ward 6)
“A student was referred to me during the pandemic due to lack of engagement in school, sleeping most of the day, and reports of anger toward family members in response to his father’s incarceration. I supported the student in developing coping tools to help with difficult emotions during the pandemic. He was discharged in October due to his progress and meeting his treatment goals. Today, the student is a member of the football team, receives multiple positive referrals from teachers, and is on track for the honor roll. He reports feeling excited about applying to high school and continuing to play football.”