Behavioral Health Navigators Program
Camarena Health’s Behavioral Health Navigators program is designed to connect Madera County students with a trained community navigator that can guide them to behavioral health services and resources. The goal of the program is to provide access to behavioral health services to those who are identified as in need of mental health support with the hope of increasing preventative services and early intervention. Through these efforts, Camarena Health hopes to continue to improve the well-being of Madera County students.
Safe delivery of services
Tele-mental health services will be a key service delivery strategy for the program, both to cover the mostly rural Madera County efficiently and effectively, and to address potential social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goals of the partnership are to:
- Increase access to behavioral health services in locations that are easily accessible to students and their families
- Emphasize preventive and early intervention services that maximize the healthy development of children and minimize the long-term need for public resources
- Provide case management services to children and families with multiple needs
- Enhance crisis services that are responsive to the needs of children and youth
- Facilitate linkages and access to a continuum of ongoing and sustained services for students with identified social-emotional, behavioral, and academic needs
- Identify gaps in services to targeted populations
The Madera County Superintendent of Schools will be the lead agency for this project.
The path to early intervention
Camarena Health’s Behavioral Health Navigators program is made possible by a grant to benefit the Madera County Youth Behavioral Health Collaborative, a partnership of the Madera County Superintendent of Schools, local school district superintendent, Camarena Health, and Madera County Department of Behavioral Health. Funds from the grant will be used to hire three behavioral health community navigators (BHCN), two licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), and a program coordinator.
Each community navigator will be assigned to one of three regions within the county. They will ensure students and their families are able to access available resources and treatment options, coordinate care, and serve as a liaison to school staff to ensure students have the school-based services they need to successfully return to and remain in class. The LCSWs will be deployed throughout the county to provide responsive additional capacity during an initial student crisis. Whenever possible, they will use interactive video and audio technology to provide support to school staff to de-escalate stressful situations and to develop preventative measures before a referral is made.
Behavioral Health Navigators Referral Form
This form is for school staff and administration only. To inquire about Camarena Health’s Behavioral Health services, please call (559) 664-4000.
All parents must give prior consent. Simply sign the parent consent form (providing insurance information) by filling out the online form, or downloading a printable version and returning to your school office or email to MobileHealth@camarenahealth.org.