School Based Services

School Based Services are school based coordinated services to address needs and risks faced by, to heal and strengthen, and to improve health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families through a community participatory approach. Access to school-based services is through School Coordinators, who are located at the school district or a school site. They coordinate services provided by schools, public agencies, and community-based organizations throughout Santa Clara County. Access to child psychiatry services can be facilitated if necessary.

School Linked Services Initiative

School Linked Services (SLS) provides students and families with school based coordinated services to improve health and wellbeing of families through a community participatory approach. School Linked Services (SLS) Coordinators, located at the school district or a school site, develop partnership with schools, public agencies and community-based organization in Santa Clara County to improve protective factors, e.g., family relationship, decrease risk-factors, e.g., behavioral and emotional problems, enhance service accessibility and resource linkage, and to support children’s success in school and in life.​​​​​​

Strategic Plan

Download our Strategic Plan 

    SLS offers on-site school-based services to heal and strengthen individuals, families and systems by addressing needs and risks faced by children, youth and families.

    SLS coordinates services provided by schools, public agencies and community-based organizations throughout Santa Clara County to improve results, enhance accessibility, and to support children’s success in school and in life.

    Approach

    • Schools are a hub for services
    • Coordinated service delivery
    • A SLS Coordinator on each campus
    • Active parent and community engagement
    • Research informed models
    • Robust evaluation to inform policy and practice
    • Sponsorship from all levels

    Services provided to children and families are data informed, easily accessible, supported by district and campus leadership, and meet the needs of the community.

    Collaborative Partnerships

    A consortium of parents, community members, partner organizations, education, and service sector leaders, holds the vision and drives the course of the SLS Initiative by championing the needs, priorities, and activities of the campus community.​​

    SLS Partners

    allcove
    Alum Rock Counseling Center
    Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County 
    City of San José    
    Community Solutions
    Downtown Youth Wellness Center
    FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
    Gardner Family Health Network
    Healthier Kids Foundation
    Kids in Common    
    Pacific Clinics    
    Rebekah's Children Services
    San José Police Department
    Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Divisions
    Santa Clara County Department of Family & Children Services
    Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
    Santa Clara County Office of Education
    Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender
    Santa Clara County Probation Department
    Santa Clara County Public Health Department
    Santa Clara County School Districts
    Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
    Santa Clara County Substance Use Prevention Services
    Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Services
    Seneca        
    Starlight        
    The Foundation of Hispanic Education
    United Way Bay Area

    In 2011, then County Board of Supervisor’s President Dave Cortese called for County Department heads to develop a plan to implement the School Linked Services Initiative. A SLS Advisory Committee was convened by Supervisor Dave Cortese, Supervisor George Shirakawa and ESUHSD Superintendent Dan Moser and met monthly from April to November 2011, concluding with the development of a Strategic Plan. The Board of Supervisors approved the SLS Strategic Plan in January 2012.

    A SLS Implementation Oversight Task Force was formed to oversee and guide the implementation phase of this initiative. The task force’s broad membership includes representation from government agencies, school districts and additional partnering entities, as well as members from philanthropy, business, academia/research, nonprofit, ethnic and cultural populations, faith, juvenile court, foster care, parents and youth.

    The task force developed and approved a charter identifying five categories of work essential to the initial phase of SLS. Workgroups were formed and are making progress on deliverables in the areas of Budget and Resource Development, Services Access and Coordination, Training and Technical Assistance, Data Assessment and Evaluation and Parent Engagement and Collaborative Development. A communication plan is under development.

    The SLS Oversight Implementation Task Force set priorities, provided direction, and championed implementation of the broader SLS initiative. The five workgroups developed concrete strategies and tools around implementation, sustainability and the expansion of SLS. Concurrently, new services rolled out across the county, in support of the SLS vision: Children are thriving at home, in school, and in their communities through the care and nurturance of families who love them; and through responsive, effective and coordinated support available from the schools, system services, and community resources that surround them.

     

    School Based Programs

    School based programs are provided by Master’s level clinicians and primarily in the school setting, although may be accessed at clinic, home, and community agencies as necessary and needed by the clients served. Services are individualized and tailored to the needs of the youth based upon age, developmental functioning level, and history of trauma, cultural values, family environment and physical health.

    Prevention and early intervention services are provided through our school-based programs. Prevention services include mental health screening, psychoeducation, SkillStreaming, parenting workshops such as Strengthening Families and Triple P and student skill building classroom presentations and groups. Early intervention includes individual and group therapy, case management, family therapy and support, and medication support.

    Population Served

    All students within partnering school districts and their families are eligible to receive school-based services, including service linkage to community resources and family engagement programs.

    For more about the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Program

    Referral Process
    Families and students may self-refer to the School Coordinators for linkage to community resources and services, as well as family engagement programs at the schools. School personnel may also refer families to the School Coordinators for services.

    Contact Information

    For School-Based Behavioral Health inquiries, please email: [email protected]

    School linked services logo

    ©2023 County of Santa Clara. All rights reserved.