Alliance Partners to Expand School-Based Program in Durham County

Alliance Health, in partnership with Durham Public Schools and Durham County, has launched a school-based, wrap-around mental health program that aims to identify and connect qualifying DPS students to behavioral health services, treatment for substance use disorders, and services and support for intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Alliance School-Based Team (SBT), in partnership with Durham Public School System (DPS), aims to identify and connect qualifying DPS students to behavioral health services, treatment for substance use disorders, and services and support for intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program will provide system coordination when a child is experiencing a behavioral health crisis or is in transition to and from crisis or residential placements, such as psychiatric residential treatment facilities, and connect families to community resources and address medical concerns, social drivers of health, and system-wide gaps.  SBT works with all insurance providers and with uninsured students.

DPS Student Support Services and SBT leadership are currently developing crisis supports with crisis facilities and emergency departments in Durham. Duke Health continues to be an advocate for families with Durham Public Schools and brings innovative ideas to strengthen the crisis continuum.

SBT is funded by Durham County Government as part of its behavioral health strategic planning to support school and other collaborative systems and will serve as a vital asset to county families, schools, providers, and crisis/hospital facilities. The program in Durham is based on the award-winning success and outcomes over the past decade of a similar partnership between Alliance, Wake County Public School System, Wake County Government, and WakeMed.

“We are thrilled to partner with Durham Public Schools on the expansion of Alliance’s school-based initiative into Durham County,” said Ann Oshel, head of Community Health and Well-Being for Alliance. “Together, we have a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact by supporting the mental health and well-being of our young people. When students feel seen, supported, and emotionally healthy, they are better prepared to learn, grow, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.”

Increasing our students’ access to quality mental health services has been an ongoing goal for Durham Public Schools for several years. Over the past year, Student Support Services has worked diligently to uplift students through our mental health program and social-emotional curriculum. The dedicated work of the team has yielded an innovative collaboration with Alliance. This expanded partnership with Alliance has fast-tracked new possibilities for connecting students to care, and we are grateful to Durham County for entrusting us with the opportunity to replicate a proven model that effectively supports student wellbeing,” said Dr. LaVerne Mattocks-Perry, Senior Executive Director, DPS Student Support Services.

“This longstanding partnership and forthcoming expansion certainly demonstrate the county’s commitment to our scholars’ psychological well-being and resiliency,” said Dr. Anthony Lewis, DPS Superintendent.