Articles
Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in student health, education, and our organization's updates and events.
PEER POWER: harnessing workforce dollars to scale youth peer support and transform schools
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health and California Children's Trust recently released a new brief on the extraordinary effectiveness and benefits of peer support among middle and high-school-aged youth. The brief, titled Peer Power (P2P), illustrates the case for continued funding to implement school-based peer-to-peer programs. By allocating existing youth workforce development dollars towards school-based peer-to-peer programs we can support youth mental health, provide real world skills, and cultivate a more empathetic, health-conscience workforce.
Today we have a unique opportunity to enact systemic change as mental health awareness is at an all- time high, social justice movements are gaining momentum, and there is a political will to rethink how we address mental health fairly and equitably. California is investing billions into initiatives aimed at transforming health and education systems to ensure all young people can thrive.
The existing behavioral health system is inadequate, with many youths not receiving the necessary support. While students are experiencing increasing rates of anxiety, depression and suicide, schools are increasingly seen as key in addressing this crisis. Ongoing investments are crucial to the success of these school-based mental health services.
The P2P brief proposes leveraging ongoing education investments to establish a sustainable youth peer support system, emphasizing the unique benefits young peers can offer. While initial funding can kickstart peer-to-peer programs, ongoing funding mechanisms are essential for scalability. This approach not only supports youth mental health but also creates economic opportunities and fosters a more culturally sensitive behavioral health workforce. Overall, by seizing this opportunity to expand peer support, we can effectively address California's youth mental health needs.
At the heart of this vision lies the concept of culturally centered, community-driven care drawing inspiration from movements such as reproductive justice, disability justice, and Black liberation, emphasizing the importance of collective care for a healthy society. Peer support is highlighted as a crucial element in fostering a thriving behavioral health ecosystem, where young people can help each other navigate challenges. School-based peer support programs equip students with the tools to heal themselves and others, empowering them to effect positive change. Additionally, peer support offers opportunities for young people to find strength in their identities and experiences, bridging gaps in traditional healthcare roles.
By leveraging workforce investments to bring peer support to scale, schools can cultivate a more diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce. Continued workforce investment will enable new accessible career paths that include Peer Support Specialists, Community Health Workers and Wellness Coaches. These entry points into the healthcare sector are a gateway to a culturally concordant workforce.
Peer support operates on the principle that individuals feel more at ease discussing personal issues with peers who share similar experiences, correcting power imbalances often felt with clinicians or adults. Trained peers facilitate connections and share coping strategies, contributing to student wellness.
In a time marked by momentum for social justice and a renewed focus on youth mental health, the brief Peer Power offers a timely and insightful roadmap for change. Discover how investing in peer support can not only bolster mental health services but also foster economic opportunity and diversity in the healthcare workforce. Read the full brief to join the movement towards a brighter, more inclusive future for California's youth. We encourage you to take a moment to explore the toolkit and share its resources widely within your networks.
Oral Health Initiative takes big leap forward in LAUSD schools
The L.A. Trust Oral Health Program Manager Nancy Ripoly at Willow Elementary School with kindergartners.
At the onset of the 2023/24 school year, The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health (The L.A. Trust) witnessed a remarkable surge in the number of kindergarten students receiving oral health screenings with one school alone accommodating 94 screenings in a single day. This is in stark contrast to the previous average of only 35 across select schools within L.A. Unified (LAUSD).
The increase in screenings is being attributed to the change from opt-in consent forms to opt-out forms. With the implementation of opt-out screenings, all students are included by default unless parents specifically decline participation. The new forms eliminated the need for individual parental signatures and streamlined the process. Opt-out consent represents a significant departure from traditional consent-based systems.
The change underscores the efficacy of opt-out screenings in reaching a larger portion of the student population and ensuring more children receive essential dental care. The new approach resulted in a significant increase in the number of students receiving dental screenings, with only a fraction of parents opting out compared to the previous consent-based model.
The idea of providing dental screening at school is part of a groundbreaking Oral Health Initiative led by The L.A. Trust with the Oral Health Advisory Board, a group of public healthcare leaders and private providers. The initiative aims to enhance children's oral health throughout Los Angeles County.
Dental screening of a kindergartner student
“We’ve been advocating for this change for years and we are excited about what this means moving forward,” said Maryjane Puffer, Executive Director of The L.A. Trust. “The success of opt-out screenings extends beyond mere numbers; it represents a significant milestone in the broader effort to enhance children's oral health across Los Angeles County.”
LAUSD provided essential data to support the transition to opt-out screenings, further solidifying the collaborative effort behind this initiative. With improved data collection facilitated by onsite screenings, officials can now better measure the effectiveness of oral health prevention and intervention programs, paving the way for more targeted initiatives in the future.
The implementation of opt-out screenings aligns with the broader legislative efforts to address oral health disparities in California. Assembly Bill 1433, enacted in 2005, laid the groundwork for the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment, which aims to mitigate tooth decay among young children. The subsequent amendment through Senate Bill 379 in 2018, allowed for onsite screenings with an opt-out consent option. This marked a significant stride towards achieving this goal. Since then, The L.A. Trust and its partners have been working with state, county and local health officials on creating and implementing a system of excellent oral care for students that is transparent, accountable, and able to track results.
The urgency of addressing oral health disparities in Los Angeles County cannot be overstated. Surveys have revealed alarming rates of tooth decay among kindergarten students, highlighting the critical need for early intervention and preventive measures. By providing accessible dental screenings in schools, particularly to children at greatest risk, Los Angeles County is taking proactive steps towards ensuring every child receives the necessary dental care for a healthy smile and a brighter future.
This endeavor was made possible with a grant from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Oral Health Program (LACDPH), which aims to provide oral health screenings, preventive care, and treatment to 77 schools across the county. This ambitious initiative has the potential to impact thousands by ensuring access to essential dental services for children in need.
The transition to opt-out dental screenings represents a paradigm shift in children's oral health initiatives in Los Angeles County. Through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches, The L.A. Trust and its partners are paving the way for a healthier, happier future for the county's youngest residents. With continued commitment and investment in preventive measures, we can strive towards a community where every child can smile with confidence.
A special Thank You to the LAUSD team for their advocacy and persistence:
Smita Malhotra, MD
Chief Medical Director
Dr. Ron Tanimura
Director of Student Health Services
Dr. Kevon Tucker-Seeley
Director, Data Privacy, Analysis, & Reporting Branch
Elevating student voices at the LAUSD Health Collaborative
Nathalie Galvan, Destiny Ramirez, and Thomas Rodriguez
On January 10th, Mendez High School Student Advisory Board (SAB) members Nathalie Galvan, Destiny Ramirez, and Thomas Rodriguez were among the panelists at the LAUSD Health Collaborative held at the California Endowment. The gathering was an exceptional opportunity for student health and educational leaders across Los Angeles County to come together; they shared unique perspectives, pitched innovative ideas, and engaged in constructive criticism among like-minded professionals.
This year’s event sought to elevate youth voices and learn from students how to best serve their health needs. Far too often student voices are left out of these important conversations.
The Mendez High School SAB members spoke to the audience about barriers they and their peers face when receiving services from school-based healthcare. They shed light on prevalent health concerns within their communities and provided valuable feedback on strategies to make healthcare more accessible to youth. Their contributions underscored the importance of early access to healthcare services through schools, and the need for more education in enrollment for comprehensive dental health coverage.
Thomas Rodriguez providing valuable feedback as a panelist.
Student Thomas Rodriguez reflected on the event saying, "I had a lot of fun and I'm even more interested in public health!" His enthusiasm underscores the impact of including student voices in these discussions.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the importance of forming partnerships with compassionate care providers, and LAUSD Chief Medical Director Dr. Malhotra discussed the value of data in driving change. Alongside them, The L.A. Trust board member Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz, a UCLA pediatrician and researcher, highlighted how social determinants of health affect student attendance and healthcare outcomes.
The event concluded on an empowering note, leaving attendees inspired by the youths’ perspectives and invigorated to break the silos in school-based health. It was a call to action for deeper collaboration, and a reminder of the overall purpose in the room - to serve their community.
The youth leaders left the event feeling heard, valued, and inspired. They advocated for themselves and their needs, and engaged with professionals who have the power to make the changes they need. This LAUSD Health Collaborative was a testament to the importance of youth voice and working collaboratively towards a healthier future for our students.
Tell Governor Newsom to sign AB 912
The SAFE Act passes the legislature and awaits Newsom’s signature
Assembly Bill 912 - the Strategic Anti-Violence Funding Efforts (SAFE) Act – passed both houses of the legislature and is on the Governor’s desk! Authored by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and co-sponsored by the California School-Based Health Alliance, AB 912 channels cost savings from prison closures into critical community programs, including state funding for school-based health centers (SBHCs).
We are proud to support this important piece of legislation. Now, we need your help in urging Governor Newsom to sign AB 912 into law!
Tell Governor Newsome to pass the SAFE Act!
Email - For Individuals
Click this link and select Topic: An Active Bill.
Scroll to select AB 912.
Click “Leave a Comment”
Select the stance “Pro”
In Subject field write: Sign AB 912 into law
In Message field: Copy and paste the language from this letter - feel free to personalize!
Send letter of support - For Organizations
Follow the template and instructions from this letter to email your organization’s personalized letter of support to the Governor’s staff.
Call
Call (916) 445-2841
Leave a message: “This is [YOUR NAME] and I urge you to sign AB 912 into law so children and youth in California can have access to critical primary and behavioral health support in schools!”
Tweet
Use the sample tweets and images in the toolkit to Tweet in support of AB 912!
Tag Assemblymember Jones Sawyer (@JonesSawyerAD57) and the Governor (@CAGovernor)
More About AB 912
AB 912 lays the foundation for a state-funded program that would start and support new school-based health centers in communities identified as having a significant need for child and adolescent health access. In addition, the legislation would:
Extend funding for the Youth Reinvestment Grant (YRG) that provides funds to local agencies and Native American tribes to implement culturally relevant, trauma-informed diversion programs for minors.
Reduce gang violence and gang involvement through programs modeled after successful ones, such as Oakland Ceasefire;
Expand evidence-based intervention programs for youth who are impacted by trauma; and,
Support parks and recreation opportunities, including summer youth leagues and extended programming.
If the Governor signs AB 912 into law, Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer will immediately work to pursue funding for the program during the current legislative session.
This is a critical opportunity to reinvest incarceration dollars into programs that reduce violence and support the well-being of children and youth. Tell the Governor to pass AB 912!
MHSA reforms update
MHSA addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention, and service needs and the necessary infrastructure, technology, and training elements.
Following weeks of negotiations and intense pressure from advocates, SB-326 - The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) was amended on August 16th to protect critical funding for our kids. Prior to the amendments, The L.A. Trust and 11 member organizations of the School Health Policy Roundtable submitted a letter of concern that elevated the detrimental impact that a reduction of prevention funding for children and youth would have on our schools and communities. The letter was among the hundreds that the legislature received in response to the proposed reforms.
A win for children and youth
The amendments include a 51% set-aside for children and youth ages 0-25 within the prevention and early intervention funding categories, respectively, resulting in 11% of total Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) revenue going to kids. This is vital to prioritizing Children and Youth in mental health services and ensures that they will not be left behind in the reforms.
As amended, SB 326 would allocate 4% of BHSA funds to population-based prevention. This is an improvement from the first iteration of the bill, but it is still unclear whether current funding levels for youth prevention would be maintained or enhanced, as our letter of concern urges. This is critical to ensuring that we can build protective factors among our kids and that prevention remains a linchpin to California’s approach to addressing the mental health epidemic.
We want to thank all our partners who have joined us in our advocacy efforts and the entire LA Trust community for your ongoing support and interest.
What’s next?
The LA Trust for Children’s Health Policy Team will continue to monitor this bill as we approach the deadline to pass bills and support any opportunity to center youth services and increase funding. Additionally, we actively engage with our partners and collaborate within our MHSA Workgroup within the School Health Policy Roundtable.
Feel free to send questions/comments to Gabby Tilley at g.tilley@thelatrust.org.
From the Policy Desk of Gabby Tilley and Chris Anthony
The L.A. Trust honors Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer with the Visionary Award
Reggie Jones-Sawyer California State Assemblymember,57th Assembly District
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health is proud to announce that California State Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer from the 57th Assembly District will be receiving the 2023 Visionary Award. This recognition will be presented to Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer at the 3rd annual Salute to Student Health gala event on September 28 at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. The gala will bring together members of The L.A. Trust community including educators, healthcare providers, and supporters of the mission to bridge health and education to achieve student wellness.
The L.A. Trust’s Visionary Award recognizes Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer's commitment and leadership in crafting forward-thinking policies that promote greater access to healthcare, education, public safety, and enhancing our justice system. Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer has authored or co-authored legislation that has benefited the state of California and residents of the 57th District which includes portions of South-Central Los Angeles, Florence-Graham, Walnut Park and Huntington Park.
The L.A. Trust enthusiastically supports his work on AB 912—The Strategic Anti-Violence Funding Efforts (SAFE) Act. This groundbreaking legislation aims to redirect $235 million in annual savings from the closure of two state prisons towards violence prevention and community support, including school-based health centers. We are thrilled to see AB 912 take an upstream approach to violence prevention that prioritizes public health and leverages existing community assets. Less than 3% of California’s six million students have access to a school-based health center. The SAFE Act would help bring essential health services to more young people.
As the people's voice for the 57th District in the State Capitol, Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer has worked hard to put local neighborhoods first and to deliver results. Throughout his tenure, Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer has prioritized local neighborhoods. He has contributed to the increase in investment in neighborhood schools, making higher education more accessible and affordable, and has played a significant role in job creation policies. His advocacy for protections for immigrants, such as driver's licenses and healthcare for immigrant children, demonstrates his commitment to inclusivity and fairness.
The L.A. Trust is honored to recognize Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and tireless efforts on behalf of the people he represents. His impact extends far beyond his district, positively shaping the lives of countless individuals throughout California.
Threat to funding underscores importance of youth-led prevention
MHSA addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention, and service needs and the necessary infrastructure, technology, and training elements.
A proposal from Governor Newsom to modernize the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) has children’s advocates concerned. Passed by voters in 2004, the MHSA taxes personal incomes over $1 million to fund direct mental health services, wraparound supports, prevention, and workforce development. MHSA funds earmarked for youth prevention help fund The L.A. Trust’s Student Advisory Boards in partnership with the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, known as the Youth Community Ambassador Network. That’s because counties are required to spend 20% of their MHSA funds on Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs; and 51% of PEI funds must be spent on individuals aged 25 and younger. With MHSA revenue projected at $3.5 billion this year, there should be at least $322 million available for youth prevention statewide. That would change under the Governor’s proposal.
Under the proposal, nearly one-third of MHSA money (roughly $1 billion) would be diverted to housing unhoused individuals with severe mental illness or drug addiction. PEI would be replaced by a “Prevention” category and receive 5% of total MHSA revenue. If in effect today, there would be $160 million available for prevention—with no set aside for children and youth. This would be a huge blow to organizations like ours that rely on PEI funding to support innovative youth-led programs. We recognize the critical need for housing support and see the proposal as unfairly pitting children and youth against the needs of adults with severe mental illness.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our systems are ripe for transformation. Ambitious state efforts like the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and California Community Schools Partnership Program put forth a vision of the future where youth and families play a central role in shaping and upholding the institutions that serve them. Current MHSA regulations have enabled youth-led and community-based prevention and early intervention efforts, which are foundational to the future our state aspires to realize. The proposed changes run counter to that vision. We fear the result would be MHSA losing its focus on prevention and there’s no existing public funding to fill the gap.
The L.A. Trust School Health Policy Roundtable is working in coalition with statewide advocates to urge the state to preserve existing investments in children and youth mental health.
Take action
If you share our concerns, we urge you to call or email your state representatives now and let them know! This Advocacy Toolkit created by Children Now includes everything you need to take action.
Feel free to send questions/comments to Gabby Tilley at g.tilley@thelatrust.org.
Balancing priorities in times of economic uncertainty
California's proposed 2023-24 state budget prioritizes youth mental health and community schools.
After two years of surplus and historic investment, economic uncertainty and a projected $22.5 billion budget deficit has California leaders taking a more measured approach to the 2023-24 state budget. At the unveiling of his proposed budget last Tuesday, Governor Newsom promised to continue the large initiatives funded during the surplus years, including $4 billion for community schools and $4.7 billion for youth mental health needs. Proposed new investments include $3.5 million ongoing for opioid overdose response on middle and high school campuses and additional funds for local prevention efforts. Far from final, the proposed budget is the first step in a long negotiation process that ends when the Legislature approves a final budget by the June 15th deadline.
In the meantime, schools across Los Angeles are beginning to implement two ambitious initiatives at the center of The L.A. Trust advocacy platform. Last year, L.A. County schools were awarded $92 million in implementation grants and $1.7 million in planning grants in the first round of California Community Schools Partnership Program funding. The L.A. Trust is thrilled to help schools implement these transformative investments as we partner with the L.A. County Office of Education and the UCLA Center for the Transformation of schools to serve as the Regional Technical Assistance Center for L.A. County.
Likewise, funding for school-based interventions through the $4.2 billion Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) will begin opening this year. The L.A. Trust School Health Policy Roundtable submitted recommendations to the state regarding CYBHI that we will uplift locally though partnerships with our county mental health department, Medi-Cal health plans, and school and community partners.
These and other initiatives present an exciting opportunity to advance youth-centered systems of support in schools that help students thrive. We look forward to collaborating across sectors to achieve this vision.
Share our priorities? We’d love to partner. Contact Gabby Tilley at g.tilley@thelatrust.org to learn more.
We are in a moment of transformative opportunity
We are in a unique moment of opportunity to advance school-based healthcare. This year, students made their return to the classroom, bringing with them unmet health and mental health needs exacerbated by 2+ years of pandemic disruption. Luckily, California entered this year’s budget cycle with a $100 billion surplus and continued its trajectory of unprecedented public investments. Between this and next year’s budget, California has committed over $20 billion toward meeting the non-academic needs of K-12 students, including $4.7 billion to transform kids’ mental health and $4 billion (ongoing appropriation, unless it’s actively removed during the budget process it would remain in place) to provide afterschool and summer enrichment programs. We applaud the state’s effort to target historic investments toward Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income communities, which experienced disproportionate harm from COVID-19 due to longstanding structural and systemic inequities.
Heightened interest and investment in youth mental health and school environments is elevating the role of school-based healthcare. The L.A. Trust School Health Policy Roundtable, a cross-sector collaborative of 33 organizations committed to advancing schools as centers of wellness, is working to ensure transformative investments in school health go toward building integrated, youth centered systems of care that help LA County youth succeed in school and life.
Learn more about the Roundtable and our policy goals here.
Share our priorities? We’d love to partner. Contact Gabby Tilley at g.tilley@thelatrust.org to learn more.
AB 1940 Awaiting Governor Newsom's Signature
We are proud to support AB 1940 (Salas): School-Based Health Center Support Program, state legislation sponsored by the California School-based Health Alliance. The bill is on Newsom’s desk awaiting signature or veto—take action to help pass AB 1940!
AB 1940 updates and modernizes the existing school-based health center (SBHC) grant program to meet the current needs of SBHCs in the state. The SBHC Program has existed in statute since 2007 yet has never been implemented due to a lack of funding. Unfortunately, funding for SBHC grants was left out of the 2022-23 state budget, but passing AB 1940 is an important step toward dedicated state funding.
TAKE ACTION
Tell Governor Newsom to sign AB 1940