Santa Clara County funds wellness centers for behavioral health across many school districts, but funding issues are forcing schools to find ways to keep wellness centers open.
The $13.2 million Wellness Center Expansion Grant Program, approved by the county last June, will support the creation of 28 centers and the expansion of 12 existing centers. The county is putting in $12.1 million, with about $10 million coming from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the state Mental Health Services Act, as the county grapples with a $250 million budget shortfall. As a result, one-time injections are running out. Approximately $1.1 million is being donated by the Valley Health Foundation.
The grants are expected to be fully distributed by June. The Wellness Center is a place for students to relax, receive counseling, and get referrals for other medical services. The annual cost per wellness center ranges from $133,333 to $300,000, which typically includes staffing, contract support services, materials, training and equipment, according to the county.
Susan Ellenberg, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, said school districts must now take financial responsibility for wellness centers.
“The funding from the county was specifically for temporary capital investment to set up the facility,” she told San Jose Spotlight. “It was never our intention to fund a wellness center on an ongoing basis.”
The San Jose Unified School District, the largest local school district with approximately 25,000 students enrolled on 41 campuses, has four wellness centers. Spokesperson Esme Bautista said that in addition to on-campus support, the center also provides community resources for families.
“Students can come to the Wellness Center to meet with nurses and counselors and take advantage of the space to reset and calm their minds so they are ready to return to class,” Bautista told San Jose Spotlight. Told. “We continue to seek grants to help plan and open the wellness center.”
The Franklin-McKinley School District has 16 schools, approximately 5,500 students, and 15 wellness centers. Director Juan Cruz told San Jose Spotlight that the average cost to run a fully staffed wellness center is about $250,000. He said the district’s budget shortfall for the 2024-25 school year is projected to be $12 million, but there are no plans to close the wellness center. The district plans to use a lump sum from its own Learning Recovery Grant to pay staff and is also seeking additional funding.
Cruz said these centers foster students’ growth and ability to successfully deal with problems, crises or traumatic experiences.
Santa Clara County considers wellness centers to be an important resource. The 2023-2024 California Healthy Children Survey found that 36% of high school students experience chronic feelings of sadness or hopelessness, according to the 2024 Santa Clara County Children’s Data Book.
“The youth mental health crisis is manifesting itself in schools every day, leading to higher dropout rates, student disengagement, chronic absenteeism, and increased disciplinary action,” county officials said in a statement. Ta.
Ellenberg said students are 21 times more likely to use health care services on school campuses than elsewhere. She said some of these services are reimbursable for her Medi-Cal and covered by her student health insurance plan.
“The need is high. When students are struggling, stressed or depressed, or severely distracted by very real challenges, it becomes nearly impossible for them to learn.” said Ellenberg. “Counties have a responsibility to public health and public welfare, especially to residents with Medi-Cal coverage, so it makes sense to provide those services and do it in schools.” Masu.”
Immy Almazan, interim superintendent of East San Jose’s Alum Rock Union School District, said the district will develop, launch and operate eight wellness centers, as well as the existing wellness center at Aptitude Community Academy in Goss. He said he received about $3.6 million in grants for the expansion. She said the district’s goal is to have the center operational through a grant next school year. The district, which enrolls about 8,000 students on 22 campuses, is expected to run a deficit of about $21 million.
“The Wellness Center will be a strong investment in the health and academic potential of ARUSD students and their families,” Almazan told San Jose Spotlight. “The district is committed to finding the resources and funding sources to provide these important services and opportunities to our community well into the future.”
The Campbell Union High School District enrolls approximately 8,400 students across five campuses and has five wellness centers staffed by district staff and outside counselors. Superintendent Robert Bravo said the center’s staffing costs are about $1.7 million a year.
Bravo said the Wellness Center provides a place for students to de-stress, participate in activities such as art therapy projects and receive important counseling. He said the district has no plans to close the center despite budget cuts and will pay for the center from its general fund.
“The board is very supportive of these resources and does not want to see the budget cut on the 24th or 25th,” he told San Jose Spotlight.
On Saturday, the county held a Youth Wellness Summit at Oak Grove High School in the Eastside Union High School District. Anushka Tadikonda, co-chair of the Santa Clara County Youth Task Force, said the wellness center shows students that school administrators care about their health and well-being.
“I need a place where I can just relax and not be suffocated by everything,” Tadikonda told San Jose Spotlight.
Contact Lorraine Gabbert: [email protected].
