New $2.5 million Medicaid grant will expand MH services in Kansas schools

Abstract

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Kansas Medicaid secured $2.5 million for school-based services, including funding for in-school mental health services, increased outreach and enrolling more families in Medi-caid, the nonprofit news outlet, Kansas Reflector, reported on July 19. The goal of the grant, announced by KDHE on June 25, is to increase Medicaid health care services for children and their families within schools, which now includes services specifically for mental health. The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund spent two months applying for the grant, as well as gathering support and research from other organizations around Kansas. “This is really a win for all schools across the state,” said David Jordan, president of the organization. “It will help modernize Kansas schools' Medicaid program and open up an opportunity for schools to be reimbursed and offer new services to more kids.” Rather than give potential resources to families, the grant will allow for students to get a wide variety of health care services right in their own school. “This will help more children get access to health care services by accessing the services during the school day,” said KDHE spokeswoman Jill Bronaugh. “After the school day ends, families may not have transportation, know where the services are or the support to access the needed services. When health care services are delivered during the school day, it normalizes the experience for the child.”