School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act

If this bill is passed, it will update part of the Code of Georgia about about the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' powers and what they’re supposed to do about mental health.

• Code of Georgia: These are the rules or laws for the state of Georgia that say what people in Georgia can and cannot do.

• Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities: A government office that helps people with mental health needs, disabilities, and addiction struggles get the care and support they need.

This bill:

• Sets up a school-linked behavioral health grant program.

• Defines "mental health or substance use disorder" as: “a mental illness or addictive disease”

• Lists the rules about who can apply for the grants.

  • Grant: Money given by the government or an organization to help pay for something important, like healthcare, education, or community programs. This money does not have to be paid back.

• Explains what activities and costs are allowed for the grant program.

• Explains the rules for collecting information and checking to see if the program is doing what it’s meant to do.

• Calls the program "School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act."

• Gets rid of any other laws that stop this one from working.

• Adds a new part to the Code of Georgia 

If this bill is passed, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will set up a program that gives money for mental health. The program will be linked to schools, depending on money available.

• The goal of the program is to find out if students have needs around mental health or substance use quickly enough to then give them the support they need.

  • Substance use: Using drugs or alcohol, sometimes in a way that can be harmful to a person’s health.

People and groups that can apply for the money include:

• Community service boards.

• Community mental health centers, which are places that provide mental health support for people in that specific area.

• People who have a special license to give people medical care for mental health and substance use needs. 

• Doctors' offices that take Medicaid can hire trained healthcare workers to care for children and families.

  • Medicaid: A government program that helps people who make little money pay for doctor visits, hospital care, medicine, and other health services.

Money can be used for things like:

• Checking to see if students have mental health or substance use needs.

• Providing medical care and and other support, including by video calls.

• Helping families get the healthcare and social support they need.

• Offering students help getting to appointments for support they need.

• Building up schools for mental health support, like staff training.

• Equipment and WiFi for medical care and other support that is given through video calls.

People and groups who get the grants also need to get another person or group, like insurance or government programs, to help cover costs before they can get a grant.

People and groups who get the grants will support students even if they don’t have health insurance or can’t pay.

People and groups who get the grants will collect and share information to check to see how well the program is working.