Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
E. Douglas Varney, Commissioner

Office of Children and Youth (OCY)

School Based Services

For more information, please contact: Kristy Leach at 615-253-4800 or kristy.leach@tn.gov
DMHSAS supports two types of School Based Mental Health Liaison programs:

SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH LIAISON:  The School Based Mental Health Liaison program (SBMHL) is one through which the Liaisons provide face-to-face consultation with classroom teachers to assist them in structuring the classroom to enhance the learning environment for children at risk of developing an emotional or behavioral problem or with serious emotional disturbance (SED).  Training and education regarding childhood mental health and classroom management techniques are provided to assist the teachers in promoting a healthy teaching environment.  The Liaison also provides support between the family and the school.

SCHOOL BASED LIAISON FOR AT RISK YOUTH:  The School Based Mental Health Liaison program (SBLARY) is one through which the Liaisons provide face-to-face consultation with classroom teachers to assist them in structuring the classroom to enhance the learning environment for children whose risk of developing an emotional or behavioral problem or substance use or abuse problem is significantly higher than average or children who have minimal but detectable signs or symptoms foreshadowing a disorder but not yet meeting diagnostic criteria.  Training and education regarding childhood mental health and substance abuse are provided to classroom teachers, school staff, and students to promote a healthy teaching environment.  The Liaison also provides support between the family and the school.

DMHSAS provides $450,000 in support of school-based mental health services, which  are provided by several agencies throughout the state:

For more information, please contact the service provider in your area:

Centerstone of Tennessee, Inc.               (615)460-4200                 www.centerstone.org

Frontier Health, Inc.                               (423)232-2700               www.frontierhealth.org

Pathways of Tennessee, Inc.                   (731)541-8200                             www.wth.net

Volunteer Behavioral Health, Inc.             (615)898-0771 (Murfreesboro)
                                                            (615)794-6100 (Franklin)           www.vbhcs.org