Ruiz-Branch: IL school mental health investments leave gaps in provider ratios

Judith Ruiz-Branch
Illinois News Connection

Despite making major policy strides to strengthen school-based mental health services for Illinois students, a national report card showed the state still has work to do.

The report by the mental health policy group Inseparable, said Illinois has 56% of the recommended number of social psychologists, nearly 70% of social workers, and just below half the number of counselors needed in schools.

Caitlin Hochul, vice president of public policy for Inseparable, said while the state has made some improvements, more work must be done to meet the nationally recommended goal of one counselor for every 250 students.

“From recent data, we know that only 9% of schools feel equipped to provide mental health services to all students in need,” Hochul reported. “Most of them are saying that staffing levels are an issue.”

Illinois’ current ratio is one counselor for every 740 students. Part of the Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative includes efforts to educate, recruit and retain professionals to address the behavioral health worker shortage.

The report card made policy recommendations for how states can improve their mental health services for children. Illinois lawmakers have already begun prioritizing some of these, including school screenings, Medicaid coverage for school-based services, increased support for young people with complex mental health needs and trauma training for school staff.

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, has been at the forefront of efforts to transform the behavioral health system for youth.

“I have seen behavioral changes that are miraculous, that if they go unaddressed, this becomes a burden on a family and a whole society for the rest of the child’s life,” Feigenholtz observed.

Saying she has witnessed how much help families need when seeking mental health resources for their children, Feigenholtz helped to pass a bill that includes implementing a centralized online portal to connect Illinois families to services in their area.