Recently, San Diego County Mental Health (CMH) awarded contracts to agencies wishing to provide mental health services in the district under Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). EPSDT is federally funded and has recently been expanded to San Diego County to allow certified providers to deliver mental health service to MediCal students. Agencies are certified through CMH.

Effective immediately, agencies have been notified by CMH that they are no longer allowed to contact sites individually to offer mental health services. All service providers must utilize the Diagnostic and Assessment Services Department as the established point of contact. Site administrators are required to redirect all interested service providers to the Diagnostic and Assessment Services Department.

The Diagnostic and Assessment Services Department has been designated by the Center for Student Support and Special Education as the entry point for provision of mental health services to students and their families. The overall goals of the Diagnostic and Assessment Services Department are to:

1. coordinate and oversee the provision of quality mental health services at school sites;

2. facilitate better communication among site and central office personnel, certified service providers and County Mental Health;

3. avoid duplication of efforts; and

4. maximize benefits of integrated services to students and their families.

Many agencies have longstanding relationships with specific schools, however, a current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be developed specifically outlining the provision of mental health services. The Diagnostic and Assessment Services Department is currently working on an individual basis to establish these MOUs with each certified service provider. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency has agreed to participate in the development and endorsement of each memorandum to ensure that the interested agency is a certified provider and can bill for MediCal services.