Student Mental Health Program Restored In Murphy-Signed NJ Budget

BRICK, NJ — The School Based Youth Services Program, which provides mental health counseling and prevention programs in 90 schools across New Jersey, has been fully restored by state legislators.

The program was put back into the nine-month state budget that Gov. Phil Murphy signed Tuesday following an outpouring of support from students and parents, staff and other organizations.

The program initially was cut by the state Department of Children and Families, and was set to cease operations beginning Thursday. The program had a $15 million budget last year. State officials said the program was being eliminated with the belief that the Children's System of Care would be able to meet the needs through programs outside of schools. Read more: NJ Plan To Cut Student Mental Health Program Sparks Outcry

David Seegert of Preferred Behavioral Health, who oversees the School Based program for three Brick schools (Brick and Brick Memorial high schools and Veterans Memorial Middle School), said the effectiveness of the School Based Youth Services Program stems from the fact that it is accessible to students right within the schools. Students can seek assistance without having to get transportation, and could discuss problems that were going on at home without needing their parents to pay for it.

The plan to cut the program prompted a petition that received more than 40,000 signatures, and a flood of calls and emails to state legislators.

"A critical mass of support like this really shows the important impact that School Based Programs have made to schools and students over the years," Seegert said. "Nothing else like it exists within the state's system of care and it's so wonderful that we were able to collectively bring positive attention to our services during this budget crisis."

Marie Blistan, president of the New Jersey Education Association, praised the restoration of the program during her remarks at Murphy's budget-signing ceremony, calling them "vital counseling services that are needed more than ever during this time."

"It's clear that the governor and state legislature now understand the need to continue providing mental health and prevention programs to our youth using the School Based model, which we have known for years as being more effective than youth having to go through barriers for treatment in other ways, not to mention the stigma associated with seeking help," Seegert said. "(The) School Based Youth Services Program eliminates all of those obstacles and eliminates stigma by being present in the building each and every day."

Seegert said the counselors are grateful to be able to focus their energies on helping students and families.

"Students are struggling with the social isolation and lack of predictability right now," he said. "School Based staff can help to provide that connection to trusted adults and work to build a network of students by offering group programs, community based activities, and individual crisis interventions."

While the Brick schools — and many others around the state — are operating on a hybrid of in-person and remote instruction, concerns about the coronavirus persist and schools remain on guard for a potential return to fully remote learning if there's another outbreak.

Seegert said if that happens, the School Based programs are prepared.

"Our School Based Programs have built an infrastructure to keep up with the change," he said.

In a letter Seegert distributed to the media, he thanked those who advocated for the program.

"If we're lucky, we have an opportunity once in our career to feel an impact this big," he wrote. "So it's not an understatement to say we could not have done this without you in our corner. 40,000 signatures on our circulated petition in less than a month and a true bipartisan agreement in New Jersey state politics proved that our programs do improve the quality of life for individuals and for society in some meaningful way."

Seegert said he will continue to advocate for the program in the years to come.

"What I think we've all learned more anything the past several months, is that nothing can be taken for granted," he said.

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