Post by willie with tan lines on Sept 5, 2017 9:46:41 GMT -8
FRONT ROYAL — Warren County Schools are set to bring in counselors to provide mental health services to students inside the schools.
During a School Board retreat on Wednesday, Michael Hirsch, director of special services for the district, said that the new positions would make it easier for parents — especially those whose children are on Medicaid — to get their children treated for mental health problems.
“Our parents and our families, because of the lack of Medicaid providers in Front Royal and because of the transportation barrier after school — because all the Winchester people are filled up after school–they’re not pulling their kids up (to treatment) after school,” Hirsch said.
Hirsch said that the counselors will take both Medicaid and private insurance.
“It’s not limited to our poverty kids,” Hirsch said.
Hirsch said that the district hopes to have the new counselors hired by Thanksgiving. Currently, the district is getting occupancy permits for the schools and is waiting to hear whether or not the school will become a licensed Medicaid provider.
The counselors will likely not be stationed in a single school within the district. Instead, Hirsch said, they will likely split their hours between schools.
Based on Hirsch’s comments during the retreat, the move to bring in counselors to Warren County Schools appears to have something to do with a Medicaid-funded behavioral health program called Therapeutic Day Treatment.
Hirsch began the discussion about the new counselors by bringing up Therapeutic Day Treatment.
“One of the things that you have to have to be eligible for [Therapeutic Day Treatment] is you have to have different community-based interventions, such as outpatient counseling,” Hirsch said during the retreat. “So you have to have something that checks the box.”
Then, Hirsch began discussing the counselors.
It was not clear from his comments during the retreat whether the new counselors are an effort by the district to comply with state or federal regulations. Following the retreat, Hirsch did not respond to requests for comment.
But the Therapeutic Day Treatment program is not new to Warren County Public Schools. Hirsch estimated that the schools have participated in the program since around 2005.
The Therapeutic Day Treatment program could be at risk for cuts, however. Hirsch said that he feared that in the current political environment, the program could change significantly.
“It’s a Medicaid-funded service, and that’s why we’re so nervous right now,” Hirsch said. “Because Medicaid might change.”
Hirsch said that he has been in contact with lobbyists who are aiming to preserve the program.
The Therapeutic Day Treatment program currently employs 30 people, Hirsch said.
“That’s why it scares me to death,” Hirsch said. “Because if Medicaid in Virginia does do something, we’re going to have 30 adults that we rely on heavily leave our building.”
During a School Board retreat on Wednesday, Michael Hirsch, director of special services for the district, said that the new positions would make it easier for parents — especially those whose children are on Medicaid — to get their children treated for mental health problems.
“Our parents and our families, because of the lack of Medicaid providers in Front Royal and because of the transportation barrier after school — because all the Winchester people are filled up after school–they’re not pulling their kids up (to treatment) after school,” Hirsch said.
Hirsch said that the counselors will take both Medicaid and private insurance.
“It’s not limited to our poverty kids,” Hirsch said.
Hirsch said that the district hopes to have the new counselors hired by Thanksgiving. Currently, the district is getting occupancy permits for the schools and is waiting to hear whether or not the school will become a licensed Medicaid provider.
The counselors will likely not be stationed in a single school within the district. Instead, Hirsch said, they will likely split their hours between schools.
Based on Hirsch’s comments during the retreat, the move to bring in counselors to Warren County Schools appears to have something to do with a Medicaid-funded behavioral health program called Therapeutic Day Treatment.
Hirsch began the discussion about the new counselors by bringing up Therapeutic Day Treatment.
“One of the things that you have to have to be eligible for [Therapeutic Day Treatment] is you have to have different community-based interventions, such as outpatient counseling,” Hirsch said during the retreat. “So you have to have something that checks the box.”
Then, Hirsch began discussing the counselors.
It was not clear from his comments during the retreat whether the new counselors are an effort by the district to comply with state or federal regulations. Following the retreat, Hirsch did not respond to requests for comment.
But the Therapeutic Day Treatment program is not new to Warren County Public Schools. Hirsch estimated that the schools have participated in the program since around 2005.
The Therapeutic Day Treatment program could be at risk for cuts, however. Hirsch said that he feared that in the current political environment, the program could change significantly.
“It’s a Medicaid-funded service, and that’s why we’re so nervous right now,” Hirsch said. “Because Medicaid might change.”
Hirsch said that he has been in contact with lobbyists who are aiming to preserve the program.
The Therapeutic Day Treatment program currently employs 30 people, Hirsch said.
“That’s why it scares me to death,” Hirsch said. “Because if Medicaid in Virginia does do something, we’re going to have 30 adults that we rely on heavily leave our building.”
www.nvdaily.com/news/local-news/2017/09/warren-county-to-bring-in-counselors-to-schools/
