Delivering the best behavioral health care to Joint Base Lewis-McChord's children was the focus of a Memorandum of Agreement for School Behavioral Health programs between Madigan Healthcare System, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Clover Park School District May 5. Meeting at Evergreen Elementary on JBLM, the agreement was signed by Madigan Commander Col. Jerry Penner III, Garrison Commander Col. Thomas Brittain and Debbie LeBeau, Clover Park School District superintendent, and principals representing the six JBLM elementary schools.

The initiation of the School Behavioral Health program has been a long-awaited collaborative effort between the on-post elementary schools, part of Clover Park School District, and the Child, Adolescent and Family Behavioral Health Proponency. The CAF-BHP is an Army Medical Command proponent that supports and sustains comprehensive and integrated behavioral health systems of care for military children and families.

The School Behavioral Health program will provide much-needed behavioral health support services directly to children and families within the school. The program provides child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, who will evaluate and treat military children, and provide resilience-based models to students, staff and parents in the JBLM schools.

"This is truly a memorable occasion for JBLM," said Dr. Michael Faran, CAF-BHP director and a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

"Army and Air Force children are extremely fortunate to have behavioral health resources available through their on-post schools. Our children will greatly benefit from the collaborative command support of Madigan and JBLM Garrison Command groups, in this mission," Faran said.

Faran directed the implementation of the Schofield Barracks/Tripler Army Medical Center SBH program in Hawaii, which started in 2003.

The SBH program is designed to provide "hassle-free" access to care, allowing students less time away from academics for appointment times, collaboration of teachers and school staff to support behavioral and academic performance, and reducing stress for parents in time off from work to transport and attend appointments for their children.

This program is especially convenient for dual-employed, deployed, and single parents. Participants can expect increased access to individual, group and family therapy, community resources, and Madigan specialty clinics, referrals and services.

All visits will be recorded within patients' electronic medical records, the same as if they were being seen at the hospital, and any prescriptions or services can be ordered directly by the physician at the school visit.

Evergreen Elementary has been a pilot site for the program and is currently offering SBH services to their students and families. The SBH program is voluntary and projected to start at all JBLM Elementary schools in the fall 2010-2011 school year. Parents of Evergreen students with concerns about the behavioral health or academic performance of their student can contact the school office or Principal Holly Shaffer at Evergreen Elementary at 583-5250, for evaluation consideration.