TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Paul Burch on Nov 16, 2023

The head of the Tennessee Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services told the governor’s budget team she would like to see a school-based behavioral health liaison in every school in the state, reports WKRN. “In order to be healthy ... and in order to succeed, you got to take care of your mental health,” said Commissioner Marie Williams. She noted there currently are behavioral health liaisons in 333 out of 1,900 state schools, and her team has seen improvements in student performance at those schools. To reach that level, the department has spent $28 million in state and federal funds. An additional $120 million would fully fund the program.