School-Based Mental Health Services
The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared children’s mental health a national emergency.
SCYAP is responding to the national and state call to mitigate the child and adolescent mental health crisis and improve access to school-based mental health services (SBMHS) by adding SBMHS to its array of community-based services.
Why are School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMHS) important?
- In South Carolina, approximately 1 in 3 children and adolescents aged 2-17 are unable to access needed mental health care.
- Schools are often the best setting for prevention and early intervention mental health services for students.
- Fewer than 50% of South Carolina’s public schools have access to SBMHS and the current SBMHS counselor-to-student ratio equates to approximately 1:1300 students.
- SBMHS can improve academic performance, physical and psychological safety, and social-emotional intelligence.
- SBMHS can decrease absenteeism, disciplinary infractions, drop- out, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
Where can SCYAP offer SBMHS?
SCYAP has offices in Beaufort, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. It also has mental health clinics in Charleston and Columbia. Given its statewide reach and regionalized structure, SCYAP is well-positioned to help meet the need for SBMHS across the State. Moreover, SCYAP’s family services and in- home therapy program can help maintain necessary mental health supports for students when schools are not in session.
What SBMHS can SCYAP provide?
SCYAP can provide the following services in a school-based setting:
- Diagnostic Assessments
- Individual Psychotherapy
- Family Psychotherapy
- Group Psychotherapy
- Crisis Management
- Service Plan Development
Want to know more about SCYAP SBMHS?
- Schools and districts interested in partnering with SCYAP to initiate, improve or expand access to SBMHS are asked to reach out to SCYAP’s Director of SBMHS at the contact information provided below.
- For the provision of SBMHS, SCYAP and the school district will need to develop an agreement in accordance with requirements set forth by the South Carolina Department of Health Service.
- SCYAP will bill Medicaid directly for eligible students.
