Continue studying alternative funding structures for behavioral health improvement efforts to identify which best promote cross-sector collaboration and student benefit¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief's conclusion recommends that California's differing funding mechanisms for behavioral health improvement be evaluated. SBHIP funneled funding through managed care plans to incentivize MCP-COE collaboration, while more recent TA investments for the new fee schedule provide funding directly to COEs, which then direct most funding to LEAs. The authors state these "different structures for funding behavioral health improvement efforts should continue to be studied to understand which models most effectively promote collaboration between health care and education" and which provide the greatest benefit to students through expanded access to programs and services.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Ongoing study comparing funding routed through managed care plans versus funding directed to COEs and then LEAs

Constraints¶

• California currently faces a substantial budget deficit, making it more important to maximize existing TA investments toward long-term system improvements

Target Learners¶

• State policymakers, local educational agencies, and health care partners

Target Learning Goals¶

• Promoting collaboration between health care and education and expanding student access to behavioral health programs and services

Related Strategies¶

• Assign tiered fiscal responsibility: education funds Tier 1 and some Tier 2 supports, while the health system funds expanded Tier 2 and Tier 3 services
• Two alternative models for statewide behavioral health TA: integrating it into the existing SSOS versus a separate but connected structure led by county behavioral health departments
• Health plans can actively partner with schools by directing networked providers to school-based activities, providing TA, placing care coordinators on campus, and funding prevention through grant-making

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Eisenberg, L., Krausen, K., & Caparas, R. (2024). Schools can't do it alone: Envisioning a statewide system of support to advance school-based behavioral health in California. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED655750