LAKEPORT >> An agreement between the county, the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) and the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative was unanimously approved by the Lake County Board of Supervisors Oct. 7.
“The office of eduction, in conjunction with Safe Schools, have pooled their money to provide therapy services and rehab services to students,” according to Lake County Interim Behavioral Health Director Linda Morris. “This contract ? provides federal dollars for the Medi-Cal match for the schools.”
The agreement, which totals a little more than $428,000, will provide services to approximately 100 students at multiple schools throughout the county.
The Safe Schools/Healthy Student Initiative is a federal grant-making program that “supports school and community partnerships by encouraging integrated systems that promote students” mental health, enhance their academic achievement, prevent violence and substance use, and create safe and respectful school climates,” according to program documents.
To date, the program has provided services to more than 13 million children, by offering more than $2 billion in funding and other resources to 365 communities in 49 states.
“What basically happens is they deposit their money into our account and then they bill us. After we have reimbursed them, we are able to draw down the federal match,” Morris said. “So it basically doubles the number of dollars which doubles the amount of services we can provide to the students.”
Students eligible for the services are identified according to the LCOE”s Special Eduction Local Plan Area (SELPA) Local Plan.
The SELPA Local Plan governs the activities undertaken on behalf of the over 1,100 Individuals with Exceptional Needs in the Kelseyville, Konocti, Lakeport, Middletown unified school districts, as well as the Lucerne Elementary School District, Upper Lake Union Elementary and Upper Lake Union High School.
According to the SELPA Local Plan, the governing boards aims to identify “all individuals with disabilities including infants, children for whom English is not a primary language, students with low incidence disabilities, students attending private schools, highly mobile children, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade.”
Public agencies, which include Redwood Coast Regional Center, Easter Seals, Head Start, California Children”s Services, Mental Health, help with the identification process.
“Having school-based services available provides children and youth opportunities for successful learning experiences that will enhance the quality of their life,” Morris said. “Children who receive school-based services have increased attendance, improved attitudes regarding school and improved peer relations in school.”
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
