School mental health program faces funding challenges

HELENA, Mont. — A state program aimed at providing behavioral health services to students is in jeopardy after funding from the state legislature ran out.

Children’s mental health is a big concern, especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“The surgeon general and the American Academy of Pediatrics have really been sounding warning bells on children's mental health over the past year,” said Lauren Wilson, MD, pediatric hospitalist at Community Medical Center. “It's been a time of a lot of uncertainty.”

Now the program needs help of its own.

“It's difficult to access mental health services for kids, and the fact that schools can offer support, right there, really makes a crucial difference in people getting services and people with behavioral issues being able to stay in school overall,” Wilson said.

The Comprehensive School and Community Treatment Program is run through the state Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Public Instruction.

OPI says prepandemic, it cost $48 million to operate the program for 4,800 students -- that’s $10,000 per student.

Until 2019, federal Medicaid money paid for most of the program, with the rest coming from in-kind contributions, like office space, from participating school districts.

Now, districts have to front the cash.

In 2020, DPHHS paid for the school districts, but last year asked the state legislature to match the funding. Instead, the legislature gave just over $2 million in “bridge funding,” intended to aid the transition as school districts figured out how to pay.

OPI says as of Jan. 5, that bridge money is gone.

Lack of funding caused some districts, like Missoula and Belgrade, to reduce or cut their CSCT services entirely, something families are concerned about.

“There's a lot of anxiety about that, because people feel that their kids wouldn't be able to participate as meaningfully in school, be able to maintain their mental well-being without it,” Wilson said.

When asked about a contingency plan, OPI said the legislature didn’t provide one but added districts can find other money.

COVID-19 relief funds could be an option, although those aren’t eligible for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.

Going forward, OPI says they’re working with districts and the Montana School Boards Association to find a solution, but there’s a deadline. Participating schools must have their approved state funding match submitted by Feb. 11.