Report 2019-125 Recommendation 23 Responses

Report 2019-125: Youth Suicide Prevention: Local Educational Agencies Lack the Resources and Policies Necessary to Effectively Address Rising Rates of Youth Suicide and Self‑Harm (Release Date: September 2020)

Recommendation #23 To: Ukiah Unified School District

To improve their students' access to mental health professionals, Kern High School District, Ukiah Unified, Gateway Charter, Redwoods Charter, and Heartland Charter should coordinate with their respective counties to request MHSA funding to employ additional school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

In regards to utilizing MHSA funds, we attended the presentation and participated in the forum, and in doing so became aware that we are not eligible to receive these funds. Ukiah Unified is part of a coalition of schools receiving services through MHSSA (Mental Health Student Services ACT) funds.. We had discussions with the project coordinator and had her put it in writing. "MHSA is a non-supplanting fund. While our services can and do pay for mental health services that can be directed to schools, at this time, Mendocino County is a recipient of the MHSSA grant (Mental Health Student Services Act), whereby mental health services are provided to students through on campus services. It would be supplanting to utilize MHSA funds to do what MHSSA is currently doing." (Attached email from MHSA Project Coordinator Rena Ford).

All slides and documents from the MHSA presentation and forum are included in this file.

However, we have been able to increase mental health services through MHSSA funds (Student referral program to local providers) along with various other sources. We have also increased our counseling positions by 2.0 FTE from our last report.

Additionally, we have reached out to our county office of education and are one of two districts in our county participating in the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP). We have received our initial funds and have submitted our District Project Assessment Proposal. Our project is the implementation of Universal Mental Health Screeners and using the BIMAS-2 system data collection system to improve our student mental health program.

Exhibit A - Email from Rena Ford, Senior Department Analyst, County of Mendocino

Exhibit B - Documents from August 30 MHSA/QIC Joint Forum

Exhibit C - Documents from MHSA Stakeholder Forum June 1, 2022

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Ukiah Unified School District is using Mental Health Student Services Act funds to provide additional mental health services in schools. Although this is not the funding source we recommended, we consider this recommendation to be implemented.

1-Year Agency Response

UUSD's Superintendent requested information from the Mendocino County Health and Human Services ("MCHHS") regarding MHSA funds on October 12, 2020. HHSA Acting Deputy Director Karen Lovato advised that the MHSA expenditure plan runs in three-year cycles and that the period for proposal submittals for the next-three year cycle had closed but that UUSD would be placed on the MCHHS email list-serve for the next cycle. The District cannot submit a proposal for the 2020-2023 plan, but will receive notice when the next proposal period is open.

The Superintendent has verified that UUSD is now on the MHSA list serve so UUSD will be notified when the new three year plan is developed. The current plan is for 2020-2023.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Ukiah Unified's request for MHSA funding when it is next able to request those funds.

6-Month Agency Response

There is nothing new to report from 60 day submission.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

We will continue to monitor Ukiah Unified School District's efforts to obtain MHSA funding to employ additional school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists.

60-Day Agency Response

UUSD's Superintendent requested information from the Mendocino County Health and Human Services ("MCHHS") regarding MHSA funds on October 12, 2020. HHSA Acting Deputy Director Karen Lovato advised that the MHSA expenditure plan runs in three-year cycles and that the period for proposal submittals for the next-three year cycle had closed but that UUSD would be placed on the MCHHS email list-serve.

The Superintendent will follow up in 18 months to ensure that UUSD is informed of MCHHS's planning and application process so that UUSD can request available funding for school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

We will continue to monitor Ukiah Unified School District's efforts to obtain MHSA funding to employ additional school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists.

All Recommendations in 2019-125

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.