The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a $1.5 million investment to expand behavioral health services in school-based health centers across the state. This funding is a critical step in ensuring children have access to the right care at the right time by providing behavioral health support that meets families where they are — in schools and communities.
"Ensuring our children have access to behavioral health services in schools is vital to their success," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "By integrating these services into schools, we can intervene early, address behavioral health concerns before they escalate and create better outcomes for children and families across North Carolina."
The $1.5 million investment will be used to fund behavioral health services in 10 school-based health centers across the state. The new funds will enable these centers to expand their services, such as adding telehealth capabilities and implementing evidence-based screening and assessment tools. Some centers will be able to hire licensed behavioral health clinicians to provide behavioral health services directly to students.
For example, Pender Alliance for Total Health Network serving Pender and Brunswick counties will use the funding to expand behavioral health services into area elementary schools. Additionally, Coastal Horizons will expand behavioral health services and support telehealth in three sites within New Hanover County Schools.
"Student behavioral health is part and parcel to student learning—when bodies are healthy, minds are calm, and hearts are supported, the goal of learning becomes achievable. This is yet another example of NCDHHS’s investment in our students and we couldn’t be more grateful. We look forward to seeing the benefits of this work and advocating for access to these types of behavioral health supports for each and every one of our students," said Eric C. Davis, Chair, North Carolina State Board of Education.
"By bringing behavioral health services directly into our schools, we are not only supporting the immediate needs of our students but also setting them up for long-term success," said NCDHHS Director of Child and Family Strategy Hanaleah Levy Hoberman. "This initiative is about more than just expanding access — it’s about creating a system of care that works for every child, wherever they are."
This initiative is part of the department’s broader $835 million investments in behavioral health, including $80 million in services to transform the child behavioral health system and improve outcomes for children and families with complex behavioral health needs. The goal is to create an integrated system of care in North Carolina’s homes, communities and schools to ensure children have access to the level of care they need, helping to prevent crisis and keep children at home for treatment whenever safely possible.
"School-based health centers are uniquely positioned to address the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents," said Yvonne Copeland, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. "With early intervention and timely access to care, these centers can prevent children from reaching a state of crisis, helping them succeed both in and out of the classroom."
In addition to direct services, the funding will also support the infrastructure necessary for delivering behavioral health care, including IT services and the purchase of essential hardware and software.
NCDHHS’ ongoing work to build an integrated system of behavioral health care for children is a collaborative effort informed by close partnership with key stakeholders and people with lived experience, including the North Carolina public school system. The department will continue to invest in a continuum of services that expand equitable access to high-quality, trauma-informed, family-centered care.