The vendor required to provide mental telehealth initiative focused on improving youth mental health in schools with an aim of reaching 50,000 students a year.
- School partnership and recruitment
• Recruit a diverse mix of public schools across county to participate in the initiative, with a focus on rural and underserved communities.
• Establish partnership agreements with each school site outlining service delivery models, student eligibility, and consent protocols.
• Ensure school-based points of contact are trained on referral processes and service access pathways.
• Schools participating in this initiative must agree to provide the contractor and department with access to relevant aggregate student data needed for program evaluation.
• This includes attendance rates and disciplinary records, reported in aggregate form.
• Data shall be provided in a format and frequency mutually agreed upon in writing, and consistent with FERPA and other applicable privacy laws.
• The contractor shall include these data-sharing requirements in partnership agreements with schools and ensure that all reporting safeguards student privacy.
- Service delivery
• Deliver short-term mental health therapy via telehealth using licensed professionals trained in trauma-informed care.
• Ensure telehealth therapy sessions are accessible to students during school hours and outside of school hours, including evenings and weekends, based on student and family availability.
• Provide telehealth services from both school-based settings and students’ homes, based on school district preferences and family circumstances.
• Establish and maintain referral pathways to longer-term mental health providers when clinically appropriate.
• Bill third-party insurance for all eligible services, including Medicaid and private insurers.
• Ensure delivery of services regardless of the student's ability to pay, including waiving or covering co-payments and deductibles when necessary to ensure access.
- School-based capacity building and coordination
• Provide orientation and training to school staff on how to support students when accessing telehealth services.
• Coordinate with family support staff, behavioral health providers, and school personnel to ensure appropriate follow-up for students in need.
- Technology, privacy, and compliance
• Maintain a secure telehealth platform with user-friendly access for students and families that is compliant with all rules and regulations as outlined in the health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA).
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local privacy regulations, including but not limited to, the family educational rights and privacy act (FERPA) and the health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA).
• Provide technical assistance to schools and families to ensure smooth access to telehealth sessions.
- Data collection and evaluation plan
• Finalize an evaluation plan in partnership with department.
• This may include, but is not limited to:
o Track service utilization by site, region, and student demographics, including number of sessions delivered and referral outcomes.
o Collect and report data on:
1. School attendance improvements
2. Disciplinary action trends
3. Student engagement in mental health screenings
4. Screening and referral results for tobacco and other substance use, depression, and anxiety
5. Student and parent customer satisfaction
• Complete required reporting for the evaluation plan.
- Reporting and monitoring
• Provide required data on a quarterly, as well as annual, basis as required metrics.
• All requests for additional information to verify data quality and accuracy must be responded to within 48 hours.
o Project activities and progress
o Success stories and challenges
o Staffing changes
o Budget updates (including explanations for overspending or under spending)
o Evaluation metrics aligned with the approved evaluation plan
o Additional reporting requirements may be requested by department.
- Financial and match requirements
• Provide at least $100,000 in in-kind contributions over the contract period, which may include technology, staffing, or other relevant support.
• Any budget modifications over 10% require prior written approval from department.
- Contract Period/Term: 2 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: January 20, 2026
