Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative

Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative

In the Budget Act of 2021, California launched the children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI).  This program focuses on enhancing the physical and behavioral well-being of all students by increasing intervention and prevention services at school, where students spend the majority of their time. 

This initiative requires school districts to partner with health service providers, including Med-Cal and private insurance, to support social and emotional health services for students.  As a result, districts can now receive reimbursement for physical and behavioral health services provided to students during the school day.  This means a significant opportunity for Hamilton Unified School District to receive reimbursements for existing services, such as screening, assessments, and mental health supports.

This year, parents will be asked to provide health insurance or Medi-Cal information during the Annual Update process and subsequently on all new student enrollments.

Important Information for Families:

• There is no cost to your family.  No out-of-pocket expenses (co-pays, deductibles) for you or your family.
• Receiving services at school will not reduce or impact students' or their family's ability to obtain care outside of school.
• As part of the CYBHI, the "Fee Schedule" sets the reimbursement rate for different types of school-related mental health services.
• CYBHI requires health insurers to reimburse school districts for certain mental and emotional supports they provide for students under the age of 26, including
  • social-emotional lessons in the classroom
  • behavioral health screenings
  • teen mental health first aid
  • substance use screening and counseling
  • individual and group counseling for topics such as friendship/social skills, executive functioning, anxiety, grief, etc.  This program is a first of its kind effort to make it easier for students and families to access the outpatient mental health care they need, and for districts to secure the funding necessary to continue providing these mental health services.
• The CYBHI will not affect your health insurance.
• The information you provide to your child's school, including health insurance information is completely confidential.  You and your child are entitled to privacy, confidentiality and protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  All health information will be securely stored and only shared in alignment with existing federal and state laws.
• CYBHI will not change the services your student receives.  Instead, it changes the way that school districts pay for the provision of behavioral health services.  It enhances access to mental health resources on our school's campuses.
• CYBHI will not affect your child's IEP services.  
• For questions about CYBHI, contact Rachel Sanchez at rfsanchez@husdschools.org 530.826.3261