Sweetser can’t keep its mental health services in 18 school districts in Maine

Students in 18 Maine school districts may have less mental health support next year after a nonprofit that provides long-term therapy announced it can’t afford to maintain current staffing levels.

Sweetser, a behavioral health organization, had clinicians with 80 schools working with more than 2,300 children in 100 public schools last school year. It’s a service many school officials say students desperately need because the state is reaching a crisis point in youth mental health challenges and school counselors and social workers need the extra support nonprofits like Sweetser have.

Sweetser’s decision to scale back services comes after the program ran a $1.5 million deficit this fiscal year, CEO and President Jayne Van Bramer said. She said the nonprofit does not want to cut services at the school, but providing them has become financially unsustainable.

Their school-based clinicians spend their days driving between schools, meeting with students, teachers, guidance counselors and social workers, calling parents, filling out paperwork and performing a variety of other tasks. But because they are paid by billing the students’ insurance, they are only paid for face-to-face time with clients in therapy sessions. That billing system is unsustainable, Van Bramer said.

She would not say which school districts would lose services and to what extent — the organization is just beginning to have discussions with superintendents about changes in services.

“It was a very, very difficult decision and I know we are working hard to minimize the impact it will have on our students, our families and of course our staff,” Van Bramer said.

‘SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES’

Young people across Maine continue to struggle with serious mental health challenges, and school officials say students need significant support.

According to the 2023 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, more than a third of Maine middle and high school students are struggling with depression, nearly a quarter have physically harmed themselves in their lifetime, nearly 20 % have seriously considered suicide, about 16% made a plan and 8% attempted suicide.

These numbers are up from 10 years ago, when 23% of Maine middle and high school students were struggling with depression, 17% were practicing self-harm, 16% were seriously considering suicide, 12% were making a plan, and 7 % made an effort. in the same 2013 survey.

“Students in Maine and the nation are experiencing significant mental health challenges,” said Brunswick Superintendent Phil Potenziano. “We have a long way to go to ensure our students get the support they need to be successful.”

At the same time, student homelessness has risen, and school leaders say they have more students than ever who are experiencing anxiety, struggling socially and acting out.

Children’s Alliance of Maine Senior Policy Analyst Rita Furlow said providing mental health services in a school setting is important because it provides easy access by a familiar face and allows children to get support as soon as possible. be possible.

“Having someone available at school can mean the difference between (a student) benefiting from being able to talk to someone right away versus trying to make an appointment two weeks out,” Furlow said.

Van Bramer said having clinicians in school buildings allows the adults in a student’s life to collaborate, problem-solve and create a blanket of support for the student.

This is especially evident as wait times for mental health support in Maine continue to increase.

FINDING SUSTAINABLE FINANCING

In this year’s legislative session, lawmakers took up a bill that would have cost $2.7 million over two years to help schools hire social workers and family therapists through organizations like Sweetser. The bill passed on initial votes in the House and Senate — but was never funded.

Van Bramer said Sweetser is regrouping and aims to push new legislation in January that would change how doctors are reimbursed for providing in-school services and allow them to be paid for work that doesn’t involve direct client contact. .

She said it is in children’s best interests for schools to be able to offer as wide a range of mental health support as possible.

“Everyone has seen the rise in youth mental health issues,” she said. “There is a need, and this program works.”

School districts often provide mental health support to students through school counselors and social workers. But they often have heavy caseloads and therefore limited time.

Clinicians, like those who work for Sweetser, provide an additional layer of mental health support and work with students and their families on complex, long-term issues.

All Sweetser clinicians must have a master’s degree in social work, psychology or mental health counseling. Maine requires school counselors to have a master’s degree in school counseling and social workers must have a master’s degree in social work.

Potenziano, the Brunswick superintendent, said Sweetser’s reduction in services is disappointing because the mental health needs of students are so high, but since COVID-19, the district has hired additional school counselors and social workers and signed agreements with providers. other local and independent social workers. to maintain deep mental health support.

Potenziano hopes the district will be able to deploy additional services if Sweetser pulls services to Brunswick schools.

Van Bramer said it’s essential that nonprofits like Sweetser are able to provide long-term mental health support for students.

“By investing in our youth and addressing these issues now, we can prevent more serious mental health challenges and more expensive forms of treatment later,” she said.

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