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.
District and campus leaders are active partners in SLS and provide oversight and support to the campus collaborative.
Campus Level Service Coordination
A services coordinator oversees service delivery and related processes on campus. The coordinator engages with families and service providers and also convenes their campus collaborative.
School District Partners
Alum Rock Union School District
Cambrian School District
Campbell Union School District
Campbell Union High School District
Cupertino Union School District
East Side Union High School District
Franklin-McKinley School District
Fremont Union High School District
Gilroy Unified School District
Loma Prieta Joint Union School District
Los Altos School District
Los Gatos Union School District
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District
Luther Burbank School District
Milpitas Unified School District
Moreland School District
Morgan Hill Unified School District
Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District
Mountain View Whisman School District
Oak Grove School District
Orchard School District
Palo Alto Unified School District
San José Unified School District
Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Clara County Office of Education
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]