Expanded Learning staff serve as trusted messengers, bridging the gap for students and families seeking mental, behavioral, and emotional health services. Their expertise in meaningful family engagement helps students and families recognize the value of mental health support, reducing stigma and increasing comfort levels among those seeking services.

This practice memo from the Capacity Grants Program highlights how counties are creating more school-based mental health opportunities for students using funding from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). It includes a case study on how the San Diego County Office of Education has worked to decrease mental health stigma and expand access to supportive services.

For more information and ongoing updates on how Expanded Learning connects to school-based mental health, please visit our webpage. For questions, reach out to Donielle Prince at dprince@afterschoolnetwork.org.