Bill > HB1634

This bill aims to provide school districts and public schools with the necessary assistance, resources, and training to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students, addressing the current fragmentation in the state's behavioral health system. It acknowledges that a significant number of children and youth experience mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems, and that early intervention improves educational outcomes and long-term well-being. The bill mandates that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and educational service districts collaborate with various state, regional, and local agencies and community partners to develop a technical assistance and training framework. This framework will help schools identify needs, map resources, access funding, and connect students and families to community-based behavioral health services, covering prevention, early identification, early intervention, and crisis intervention. The framework will align with the state's strategic plan for children and youth behavioral health, incorporate evidence-based practices, and include strategies for engaging families and community partners, all while optimizing the delivery of these supports and braiding together various funding sources. Importantly, this bill does not impose new duties on schools beyond what is already required by law.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1634&Year=2025&Initiative=false