In GGUSD, we believe student mental health is the foundation for academic success. Each of our schools has skilled and caring psychologists and social workers and through the state’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), schools can now be reimbursed for the mental health services we already provide. Starting in January 2026 GGUSD can submit claims for reimbursement up to 365 days from the date services were furnished to an eligible student as part of the CYBHI Fee Schedule program.

What does this mean for families?

1. Sustained support. Reimbursement helps us keep school social workers in place, even as many districts cut mental health positions.
2. Same services. Students will continue to receive the same support—this program simply helps cover costs.
3. No insurance? Students without insurance will still receive all needed services.

What if my child does not receive or need direct counseling services?
There are MANY services our school social workers provide as a part of their work (beyond providing one on one or small group counseling) that we can seek reimbursement for. Those activities include:

1. Whole Class Lessons: Social-emotional learning (SEL), coping skills, mindfulness, conflict resolution, digital citizenship.
2. Schoolwide Presentations: Assemblies or workshops on bullying prevention, kindness campaigns, stress management
3. Brief Student Check-ins: One-time or occasional supportive conversations with students (non-therapeutic, problem-solving in nature)
4. Drop-in Support: Responding to a student request to talk (not ongoing counseling).
5. Crisis Triage/Immediate Response: Assessing a student in the moment (e.g., anxiety, grief reaction, peer conflict).
6. Restorative Circles or Conflict Resolution: Facilitating peer conflict resolution or reintegration after suspension.
7. Attendance Interventions: Meeting with students/families as part of SART/SARB to address chronic absenteeism.
8. Re-entry Meetings: After hospitalization, suspension, or significant absence.
9. Teacher/Staff Consultation: Supporting classroom strategies for behavior, attention, or SEL needs.
10. Care Coordination: Referrals and linkage to community-based services (mental health, social services).
11. Case Management: Following up on whether a student accessed services, checking in on progress, documenting outcomes.
12. Parent Engagement & Education: Workshops on child development, stress management, positive behavior supports.
13. Data Review: Using attendance, behavior, and survey data to identify students in need of additional support.

How you can help:
Please input your insurance information directly into Aeries in order to provide your child’s insurance information and provide consent for GGUSD to submit claims for services. If you do not wish to provide insurance information and/or consent, you can also indicate that within Aeries.

You will only be asked to provide the district with your consent to submit claims to your insurance. Parents have no other responsibilities in this process.

No, there is no cost to families. Submission of claims does not impact copays, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, or insurance benefits.

The district uses these funds to supplement the cost of the services being performed at school sites every day. In addition, these funds are used to support services that can sustain student services.

No. Without your consent to submit claims, your child will continue to receive care but the district will not receive funds for the eligible services that your child may be provided. Other district funds will be used to support the full cost of these necessary services.

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time (a withdrawal will not be retroactive). Log into your Aeries Parent Portal to change your consent.

The education records that may be shared include: child’s name and date of birth; health-related evaluation, intervention, and referral information (for services received at school); practitioners’ notes related to these health services; and, select data from child’s IEP/IFSP (if applicable). The district’s reimbursement recovery vendor is bound by a contract that contains specific provisions to keep student records confidential and secure, ensuring information is not used or disclosed inappropriately; further, our vendor is HIPAA compliant. In addition, the district and DHCS are bound by agreements that include specific provisions about the use of the information shared in this program, and explicit security protocols to keep your child’s information confidential and secure.

We do not collect immigration status information, your immigration status will not affect your child's ability to receive servies. Your child's privacy and the confidentiality of their records are fully protected under federal laws, specifically the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).