* 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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… ???
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 11, 24 @ 1:50 pm:
===CPS is already doing this===
For some, not all.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.