(a) The Behavioral Health Student Services Act is hereby established as a mental health partnership grant program for the purpose of establishing mental health partnerships between a countyâs mental health or behavioral health departments and school districts, charter schools, and the county office of education within the county. (b) The Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission shall award grants to county mental health or behavioral health departments to fund partnerships between educational and county mental health entities. Subject to an appropriation for this purpose, commencing with the 2021â22 fiscal year, the commission shall award a grant under this section to a county mental health or behavioral health department, or another lead agency, as identified by the partnership within each county that meets the requirements of this section. (1) County, city, or multicounty mental health or behavioral health departments, or a consortium of those entities, including multicounty partnerships, may, in partnership with one or more school districts and at least one of the following educational entities located within the county, apply for a grant to fund activities of the partnership: (A) The county office of education. (B) A charter school. (2) (A) An educational entity may be designated as the lead agency at the request of the county, city, or multicounty department, or consortium, and authorized to submit the application. (B) The county, city, or multicounty department, or consortium, shall be the grantee and receive grant funds awarded pursuant to this section, even if an educational entity is designated as the lead agency and submits the application pursuant to this paragraph. (c) The commission shall establish criteria for awarding funds under the grant program, including the allocation of grant funds pursuant to this section, and shall require that applicants comply with, at a minimum, all of the following requirements: (1) That all school districts, charter schools, and the county office of education have been invited to participate in the partnership, to the extent possible. (2) That an applicant include with their application a plan developed and approved in collaboration with participating educational entity partners and that include a letter of intent, a memorandum of understanding, or other evidence of support or approval by the governing boards of all partners. (3) That plans address all of the following goals: (A) Preventing mental illnesses from becoming severe and disabling. (B) Improving timely access to services for underserved populations. (C) Providing outreach to families, employers, primary care health care providers, and others to recognize the early signs of potentially severe and disabling mental illnesses. (D) Reducing the stigma associated with the diagnosis of a mental illness or seeking mental health services. (E) Reducing discrimination against people with mental illness. (F) Preventing negative outcomes in the targeted population, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (i) Suicide and attempted suicide. (ii) Incarceration. (iii) School failure or dropout. (iv) Unemployment. (v) Worsening of symptoms and the condition over time. (vi) Homelessness. (vii) Removal of a child or youth from their home. (viii) Involuntary mental health detentions. (4) That plans include a description of the following: (A) The need for mental health services for children and youth, including campus-based mental health services and potential gaps in local service connections. (B) The proposed use of funds, which shall include, at a minimum, that funds will be used to provide personnel or peer support. (C) How the funds will be used to facilitate linkage and access to ongoing and sustained services, including, but not limited to, objectives and anticipated outcomes. (D) How the partnership will collaborate with preschool and childcare providers, or other early childhood service organ
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