Preliminary Findings From the BHSSA School Behavioral Health Systems Survey

This webinar provides early insights from the statewide Behavioral Health Student Services Act (BHSSA) evaluation, work that WestEd is leading in collaboration with the California Commission for Behavioral Health. The BHSSA is part of California’s substantial investment in making behavioral health services in schools more timely, equitable, and high quality. It was signed into law in 2019 to support partnerships between county behavioral health departments and local education agencies. The BHSSA evaluation looks at how implementation has contributed to statewide school behavioral health systems change. 

This webinar shares background information on the BHSSA and the evaluation, then presents early BHSSA School Behavioral Health Systems Survey findings and insights from the BHSSA evaluation grantee case studies. The full BHSSA evaluation report is expected in summer 2027. 

The BHSSA School Behavioral Health Systems Survey has three sections: BHSSA Grant Partnerships, the School-and-District‑Level School Behavioral Health System, and the County‑Level School Behavioral Health System. This webinar focuses on one section of the survey, specifically the section that looks at the County‑Level School Behavioral Health System. 

Featured Speakers

Natalie Romer is a Senior Associate on WestEd’s Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities team. Her work includes technical assistance, research, evaluation, and training focused on developing effective and efficient systems to support the social and emotional well-being of school communities.

Nicole Tirado-Strayer is a Senior Research Associate and an applied developmental psychologist with over 15 years of experience in participatory program and policy evaluation. Tirado-Strayer conducts evaluations of systems change initiatives in the education and mental/behavioral health fields.