June 10, 2024
OCBC President and CEO Jeff Ball sat down with Michael Hunn, CEO of CalOptima Health, for the second in a four-part Q&A series about the organization’s role in keeping Orange County healthy. Learn what CalOptima Health is doing to address the mental health crisis among Orange County’s children?
Ball: What is CalOptima Health doing to address the mental health crisis among Orange County’s children?
Hunn: It’s alarming that suicide rates for children aged 10–18 increased 20% between 2019–20. We know the pandemic further contributed to the declining mental health of our county’s children and teens. These alarming statistics underscore CalOptima Health’s urgent effort to address children’s mental health with funding from a statewide initiative called the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP). We have worked collaboratively with the Orange County Department of Education, the school districts and other stakeholders on SBHIP since 2022.
Ball: What specific programs will be offered through the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Plan?
Hunn: A total of $25.5 million is funding a variety of programs, and we are proud that all 29 Orange County school districts are involved and working to boost access to behavioral health care for K–12 children at school. The school districts are hiring additional behavioral health clinical staff, such as social workers, school counselors and school psychologists, and school staff will receive enhanced training from Western Youth Services, a local organization that specializes in equipping schools to address students’ needs. Schools will also have access to a telehealth platform provided by Hazel Health that all 442,000 Orange County students (uninsured, privately insured and Medi-Cal can use to receive virtual behavioral health services. In addition, CHOC is building 10 new WellSpaces, which are sites at schools that offer quiet respite for students in need.
Ball: When will these programs be in place?
Hunn: We are making progress right now! The behavioral health training for school staff begins this year, and the telehealth platform will be launched across Orange County in two phases in 2024. CHOC is currently identifying sites for the new WellSpaces and working to add specialized staff and services to better coordinate care with schools. We know that time is of the essence, and these services are crucial.
Ball: This is great news for the children in our county! I look forward to continuing our conversation in Part 3 of this series.
