MEDIA ADVISORY — Leaders from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC Department of Public Instruction and State Board of Education will join a roundtable with Guilford County Schools on Wednesday, April 24, to discuss the importance of school-based resources in improving physical and behavioral health outcomes for North Carolina children and families. NCDHHS received a historic $835 million to transform behavioral health care in North Carolina, with $80 million specifically focused on children and family well-being. Of that funding, this year, NCDHHS is investing $7 million in services like school-based telehealth to ensure children have better access to behavioral health support and treatment.
The youth behavioral health crisis continues to impact North Carolina families, yet more than 70% of children say they do not have access to the mental health care they need. While schools play a critical role in providing early intervention services, data show that in 2022, North Carolina schools had less than 20% of the school psychologists and school social workers recommended for the state’s student population.
Among NCDHHS’ top priorities is to build a behavioral health system in North Carolina that meets children and families where they are — including at school. In addition to investing in school-based telehealth services for behavioral health, the department has trained more than 1,200 school staff and youth-serving partners across the state in mental health first aid to ensure they know how to respond if a student shows signs of needing behavioral health support.
The SBE operates with the understanding that student instruction and outcomes are inextricably linked to student mental health. Accordingly, the board advocates for more funding for specialized instructional support personnel, has directed millions in federal relief funding toward mental health supports, and continues to explore ways the state education authorities can support local districts and charter schools in addressing this vital student need.
Media is invited to attend the GCS roundtable and visit a telehealth clinic at Washington Elementary School. This visit offers a firsthand look at the solutions being implemented to improve behavioral health resources for children and families in North Carolina.
What: Guilford County Schools Roundtable on Improving Health Outcomes for Children and Families
Who: Kody H. Kinsley, Secretary, NCDHHS
Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer, NCDHHS
Paul Travers, Principal, Washington Elementary School
Eric Davis, Chair, NC State Board of Education
Alan Duncan, Vice Chair, NC State Board of Education
Whitney Oakley, Superintendent, Guilford County Schools
Kimberly Steinke, Chief Exceptional Children and Student Services Officer, Guilford County Schools
Jose Oliva, Chief of Staff, Guilford County Schools
Stacy E. Warren, Associate Director of Health Care, The Duke Endowment
When: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
10 a.m. Roundtable Discussion
10:45 a.m. Media Q&A
11 a.m. Telehealth clinic walkthrough
Where: Washington Elementary School
1110 E. Washington St.
Greensboro, NC 27401
Media: Credentialed media interested in attending should arrive at 9:50 a.m. Please RSVP to news@dhhs.nc.gov if you plan to attend.