Michigan Unveils New Strategy to Bolster Mental Health Support in Schools
Amid growing concerns over student mental health, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has introduced new guidelines aimed at enhancing mental health support within schools. The initiative comes as a response to alarming statistics, such as the 2019 Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which found that approximately 63% of high school students in the state have encountered adverse childhood experiences.
In March 2023, the MDE’s School Behavioral Health Unit initiated discussions with mental health experts to address these challenges. According to Scott Hutchins, Supervisor of the School Behavioral Health Unit at the MDE, the focus was on effectively utilizing various subsections of the School Aid Fund dedicated to student mental health and safety.
Back in 2019, Governor Gretchen Whitmer sanctioned $31.3 million to enable intermediate school districts to engage licensed master’s level behavioral health providers. This was the start of a series of financial boosts aimed at tackling mental health issues in schools over the following years.
Hutchins stated, “A lot of it was finding those helping professionals, and then figuring out how do we help those helping professionals provide important services in school?”
For the fiscal year 2025, Whitmer has committed over $250 million to further support children’s mental health and school safety initiatives.
The comprehensive approach outlined by Hutchins involves conducting a needs assessment followed by utilizing a resource map to identify and address gaps. “That’s where, again, those funds can come in if you’re thinking about – from a comprehensive perspective – how can 31AA funds, which can be used for, again, activities and other things to improve student mental health, how can you fill in the gaps?” Hutchins explained.
The guidelines propose a multi-tier system of supports. The first tier includes universal interventions, such as cultural and climate strategies benefiting all students. The second tier focuses on specific interventions for smaller groups, while the third tier is reserved for direct therapy services for a minimal number of students.
Rural and economically disadvantaged schools might face hurdles in implementing tier three interventions, largely due to staffing shortages. Hutchins noted, “That’s probably where I’d say we’d see the challenge is just having enough providers to meet the needs of all students that have been identified for those tier three services.”
