A new partnership between the Clover Park School District, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Madigan Army Medical Center and the Child, Adolescent, and Family Behavioral Health Proponency will add another level of behavioral health services to schools on base.

District Superintendent Debbie LeBeau, along with Col. Thomas Brittain, JBLM Garrison commander, Col. Jerome Penner, MAMC commander and the principals of elementary schools on JBLM signed a memorandum of agreement May 5 during a ceremony at Evergreen Elementary.

The agreement ensures easier access for students and families impacted by deployments, separation and re-integration following deployment to behavioral health support, said Michele Gross, a nurse administrator with the Behavioral Health Proponency.

"It's simply enabling easier access to care and helping reduce the stigma that comes along with asking for help," Gross said.

The program provides evaluations, screenings, prevention, early identification, risk reduction, consultation, early intervention and clinical treatment to students and their families. Each elementary school on JBLM will have a full-time licensed social worker as part of their school staff. In addition, clinical support teams will work with school staffs. This will include but not be limited to: psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians and other behavioral health specialists.

By locating the care within schools, the child feels more comfortable in a school environment and parents don't have to take time off work to bring their child to Madigan to see someone.

"We're seeing a much lower percentage of no-shows for appointments," Gross said.

Having the resources close at hand also empowers staff members and those who interact with children most during the day to keep their eyes open for signs of issues, whether it's anxiety, behavioral disorders or depression.

"When you start to see symptoms at an educational level, it's part of the bigger picture," Gross said. "It's up to the advocates to recognize these things."

Students need a referral to the program from the principal, and parents must sign a consent form. Once a student is approved, they are referred to a triage team so the team can determine what the best avenue for care is, Gross said.

Evergreen Elementary is implementing the program first. The remainder of the schools will implement the program based on student enrollment with the largest schools going first. Full implementation is anticipated for all six elementary schools on JBLM during the 2010-11 school year.