Could this California grant ease school counselors’ workloads?

California is rolling out a certified wellness-coach program with the hope that these non-clinicians will ease the workloads of school counselors and social workers to address a rise of children’s behavioral disorders.

California youth are experiencing longstanding mental-health issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which can manifest in behavioral problems at school and can lead to chronic absenteeism , poor academic performance and even suicide .

Meanwhile, the need for school counselors, therapists, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists is greater than ever amid a statewide shortage. UCSF research shows the deficit is projected to grow, leaving California with fewer providers than needed to meet demand by 2028.

California had a student-to-counselor ratio of 464-to-1 in 2022-23, according to the American School Counselor Association. The national average was 385-to-1, and the association recommends a ratio of 250-to-1.

This year, the state released more funding to help alleviate the shortage of these professionals under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mammoth $4.7 billion Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health .

The certified wellness-coach program aims to bring more supportive adults into schools who represent the diverse backgrounds and experiences of California’s children. State health-care policy analyst Ben Gamache told The Examiner in an email that the program will also address a burgeoning shortage of school counselors.

Gamache works for the state Department of Health Care Access and Information, which opened up a grant application period earlier this year for public schools to hire a coach.

“California’s goal for this program is for wellness coaches to ease the workload of school employees,” he said. “By handling broader, non-clinical services, [coaches] will allow licensed or credentialed staff to focus on youth who may have more complex needs or require higher levels of support.”

The state invested $338 million to design and build the program and hire the workforce. The coaches will work in schools and with community-based organizations under the guidance of qualified school professionals or clinicians, and they could earn yearly salaries of up to $82,000 .

The grant could offer the San Francisco Unified School District a financial lifeline to boost its mental-health efforts for students. State auditors said this month the district must lay off more than 300 employees by the end of May in order to avoid bankruptcy, potentially clouding San Francisco public schools’ ability to hire licensed counselors.

A San Francisco Unified School District spokesperson did not respond on whether SFUSD applied for the grant. Gamache did not confirm which school districts have applied and said state officials are still processing applications. He added that “nearly half of the state’s adolescents struggle with mental health challenges” and could benefit from these grants.

Those interested in becoming coaches can apply for scholarships that will cover one year of education at a state university or a community college. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Friday.

“Anyone who is currently working in mental health, substance use and addiction, social work, or child welfare can apply now,” Gamache said. “Once certified, they can begin making a difference in the lives of children and youth.”