California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI)

Help Your School Access Funding and Provide More Funding for Social/Emotional Support Staff

This year, the district will request that all families sign a consent form and provide their child’s health insurance information during data collection and confirmation. This will help unlock funding to continue to pay for the work our amazing school counselors and psychologists do for our students every day.

1. What is the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI)?

   The CYBHI is a state-funded program aimed at improving mental and behavioral health services for children and youth. It ensures young people have access to the care and support they need for emotional, mental, and social well-being.

2. How does this work?

   The State of California partners with schools and health plans to make sure that students can get mental health and emotional wellbeing support in schools across the state. Schools already offer an array of mental health services to meet the needs of students; however, securing funding for these services can be a challenge.

    

   Under this new program, California’s health plans and insurers are now required to reimburse public schools (including K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities) for covered mental health services provided to students under the age of 26. State law prohibits health plans and insurers from passing any of the cost of these services on to families.

    

   This means that the health plans and insurers will pay for mental health services provided to your child in a school-linked setting and there WILL NOT be any out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., co-payments, deductibles) for you and your family.

3. Who can use these services?

   The initiative serves all children and youth in California, focusing on increasing access to services for students in schools, including those covered by Medi-Cal and those with limited access to mental health care.

4. What types of services are included?

   CYBHI provides reimbursement opportunities for behavioral health supports, such as:

    - Mental health counseling and therapy

   - Screening and early identification of behavioral health concerns

   - Peer support and community-based services

   - Crisis response resources

   - Training for educators and school staff to better support studentsTo be clear, these are services our schools are already providing. This is simply a new way for these services to be funded.

5. How can my child access these services?

   Services may be available through your child’s school, local community health organizations, or behavioral health providers. Contact your child’s school for information on available programs.

6. Is there a cost for these services?

   These services are completely free and receiving these services in school WILL NOT affect your child’s coverage under the health plan or insurer.

7. How will my child’s privacy be protected?

   All information shared during behavioral health services is confidential and protected under federal and state laws, including FERPA and HIPAA, where applicable. Insurance information collected by families is completely confidential. You and your child are entitled to privacy, confidentiality, and protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ education records, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law that provides the privacy and security of health information. Your child’s health insurance information will not be shared with any outside entities, except as necessary to enable you or your child’s school district, college, or university to receive reimbursement for mental health services provided to your child and/or family, or as otherwise permitted under state and federal law (e.g., reporting to the California Department of Health Care Services).

8. What if I don’t know my child’s insurance information? How can I find it?

   For private insurers, please contact your insurance provider directly to request this information.

    

   For families with Medi-Cal, you can access your child's insurance information, including the provider ID, by checking their Medi-Cal or IEHP insurance card. If you don't have the card, contact Medi-Cal at (800) 541-5555 or IEHP Member Services at (800) 440-IEHP (4347) for assistance.

    

   You can also log in to your account on the Medi-Cal or IEHP website to find the information.

9. What if my child does not have insurance?

   If your child does not have insurance, you may be able to apply for Medi-Cal or Covered California for low-cost or free coverage. Apply online at www.coveredca.com or through your local county social services office.

    

   Your student will STILL BE ELIGIBLE to receive services, regardless of insurance status. However, the district may not be able to be reimbursed for these services.

10. What if I don’t wish to participate?

    Your child may still receive no-cost mental health services at school. However, if you decide not to provide your child’s health insurance information, your school cannot access this critical source of funding for schools. If your child is eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they are entitled to receive mental health services and supports pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Your decision to provide (or not provide) your child’s health insurance information WILL NOT affect your child’s eligibility for these services.