Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Finally, a CTU fiscal proposal that doesn’t involve magic beans
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Finally, a CTU fiscal proposal that doesn’t involve magic beans

Friday, Oct 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This won’t solve the deficit problem, of course, but CPS needs all the help it can get, so maybe it should start helping itself…


* From the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter…

Today, the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL), in partnership with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), calls for urgent action to address the mental health crisis affecting students in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). NASW-IL recently announced a workload based safe schools ratio that once again shows major deficiencies in how CPS addresses mental health in schools. This data driven approach backed by recent state Medicaid funding changes, would allow CPS to hire a workforce of school social workers adequate to meet the rising needs of its students. This proposal advocates for a workload-based staffing model that estimates CPS requires at least 2,031 school social workers to support students’ mental health, a number that could be conservative given the level of trauma experienced by Chicago’s youth.

An Urgent Mental Health Need in CPS

With a student population of over 300,000, CPS is facing critical challenges in providing adequate mental health support. Recent data shows that 1 in 5 students in the United States experiences a mental health disorder each year, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 10-24. In Chicago, where students are disproportionately affected by trauma, the need for accessible mental health services is particularly acute.

Medicaid Funding Opportunity: A Path to Sustainable Mental Health Support

In 2023 (retro to 2021), to support student well-being, Illinois amended its Medicaid State Plan, allowing schools to bill Medicaid for services provided to eligible students. Given that the majority of CPS students are Medicaid-eligible, this new funding source offers CPS an immediate pathway to generate resources specifically designated for mental health services.

“Medicaid funding presents a transformative opportunity for CPS to bridge the gap in mental health support,” said Joel L. Rubin, Executive Director “By billing Medicaid for both general education and IEP students, CPS can secure the resources necessary to build a qualified team of social workers who can address the critical needs of our students.”

Chicago Public Schools was one of the first schools to be put into a Healthy Schools Campaign Cohort to provide free training, technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities to expand Medicaid billing, to date they have not implemented this option.

According to Latesha Newson, LCSW, NASW-IL Board President,” With the Illinois Medicaid plan amendment by Gov. Pritzker - CPS now has the mechanism to fund such a transformation that would promote healthy and thriving students, schools, and communities. Whether CPS is failing to capture one penny or millions it is unconscionable that CPS wouldn’t take every step to address the immense trauma our kids are facing.”

Key Highlights:

    • 2,031 school social workers were estimated to meet the current mental health needs in CPS, a number that may be conservative given Chicago’s unique challenges (compared the estimated 610 currently.)
    • Medicaid Billing Expansion: CPS can bill Medicaid for services provided to both general education and IEP students yet only bills for IEP services, complete billing would generate sizeable means to support the mental health workforce.
    • Long-Term Impact: More social workers mean better attendance, improved behavior, and academic gains, fostering a positive learning environment.

Call to Action

NASW-IL urges CPS leadership, policymakers, and community stakeholders to adopt this proposal and implement Medicaid billing immediately. Investing in a qualified team of social workers is an investment in the future of Chicago’s youth, ensuring every student has access to critical mental health resources.

       

13 Comments
  1. - ElTacoBandito - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:18 pm:

    Badly needed. Even in well resourced schools there is a severe lack of resources for kids mental health. Behavioral issues come first for attention (rightly so) but those with mental health challenges not acting out are getting left behind.

    This is also a drag on learning because teachers have to spend time helping students learn to cope with their mental health before they start being able to learn.


  2. - JS Mill - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:20 pm:

    =CPS can bill Medicaid for services provided to both general education and IEP students yet only bills for IEP services=

    You have to kidding me. How did they not know that and, if they did, why are they not doing it. We have been doing it, everyone but CPS apparently.

    Keystone cops.


  3. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:21 pm:

    CPS claims it is billing Medicaid for services it provides to Medicaid eligible students in addition to students with IEPs. See page 27 of their budget.

    https://www.cps.edu/globalassets/cps-pages/about-cps/finance/budget/budget-2024/docs/fy2024-budget-book-final-approved-1_1.pdf


  4. - Excitable Boy - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:23 pm:

    I’m not defending the Johnson administration, but it seems like between the bad budgeting and this and probably an assortment of other things, why can’t Martinez be fired for cause?


  5. - ElTacoBandito - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:30 pm:

    ==why can’t Martinez be fired for cause?==

    The case law behind “for cause” can be convoluted but it usually has to be something serious like a crime, scandal, or a major f*** up of epic proportions. Maybe if you lined up everything he’s done it could add up, but it is arguable that he’s done a good job with his resources and if its arguable, then you likely cannot fire for cause.


  6. - Juice - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:40 pm:

    CPS is already doing this. The state just gave them about $25 million for some of their retro-claims.

    Nice try though Stacy.


  7. - Kyle Hillman - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:42 pm:

    RE: Three Dimensional Chess

    So you are saying they were fully aware of the option —-which they clearly were as they were part of the first Healthy Campaigns CoHort and some of us has been asking for over a year now why aren’t they billing for these non-IEP services —- but still haven’t done it because… ???


  8. - Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:50 pm:

    ===CPS is already doing this===

    For some, not all.


  9. - Juice - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 2:00 pm:

    No, they are doing it for all of their students.

    The reimbursement is being done as a reconciliation against actual costs, and not on a claim by claim basis as has traditionally been done for local education agencies. So there is a lag in the reimbursement.

    But CPS is actively engaged in doing this with the state.


  10. - Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 2:00 pm:

    If social workers in schools can address chronic absenteeism, that would be a first step. An article from May 2024 indicated that in some schools the rate of chronic absenteeism is 40%.

    A positive climate in the classroom provides stability and security for students. If students are consistently in school, test scores should be positively impacted.


  11. - Chicago voter - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 2:10 pm:

    CPS already bills Medicaid.

    For nurses and social workers, most of their time is obligated for kids with ieps and 504s.

    What isn’t billed is often because it’s not billable, take this up with medicaid and insurers.


  12. - Jim Jimbo - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 2:10 pm:

    Seems like a catch-22. CTU wants CPS to hire 1,400+ additional social workers. But if their work isn’t billable under Medicaid, they own the expenses. CPS knows about Medicaid and its expansion. CPS 2024 budget: ==pg 27 of Three Dimensional Checkers== citation:
    “Medicaid revenues in FY2024 are projected to be $50.9 million, subject to the level of healthcare
    services rendered in the upcoming school year. FY2024 Medicaid revenues are strengthened by recent changes in state policy expanding eligible services and providers…” Seems like Medicaid expansion just happened 7/2024 and mb CPS still evaluating how it will hire for it.


  13. - Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 3:59 pm:

    Look, I’m sure if we just invest more in Lucy’s bank account, she is sure to let us kick the football.


TrackBack URI

Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* UIC testing lab accused of providing flawed results in 1,600 cannabis DUI convictions
* Today's must-read
* COGFA: Illinois job growth rate is about a tenth of national growth rate since October of 2019
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards
* Roundup: Madigan trial delves into political fight over Chinatown land deal
* It’s just a bill
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Federal appeals court stays Downstate federal judge's gun ruling (Updated)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller