Anaheim Elementary School District is showing how to translate complex state programs into real services for kids. As Spectrum News 1 reports, the district has recovered about $810,000 through California’s behavioral health reimbursements and expects to surpass $1 million soon, helping fund school-based counseling that students can access without long waits.
Demand is up and budgets are tight. More than half of public schools say student need for mental health services has increased, while many still cite funding shortfalls. By navigating state reimbursement pathways rather than relying only on short-term grants, Anaheim is building a steadier foundation for school counseling and care coordination.
The district partnered with TadHealth, a school-focused platform that helps document services and route claims tied to California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. In its first wave of reimbursements, Anaheim unlocked hundreds of thousands of dollars and set a roadmap other systems can follow.
For families, the impact shows up as practical access. Students meet regularly with school counselors, staff make proactive referrals when concerns surface, and recovered dollars help sustain routine check-ins, timely referrals, and a single front door to care that keeps students connected.
Interest is spreading beyond Orange County as districts look for ways to simplify billing under state programs and convert eligible services into steady funding streams. That reduces pressure on general funds, helps teams retain clinicians, and supports school-day access while tracking outcomes over time.
Use reimbursement to stabilize, not just start, services. Reclaiming eligible costs protects counseling time and scales what is working.
Pair operations with documentation. Align workflows, data capture, and claims rules to recover dollars without adding red tape for clinicians.
Share the playbook. Public examples like Anaheim give peer districts a practical template to replicate.
Sustainable school mental health often comes from getting the funding mechanics right behind the scenes. Anaheim’s progress is a useful reminder that strong documentation and smart partnerships can keep support available where students already are.