Burrell Behavioral Health & Lee’s Summit R-7 School District partner to provide school-based mental health services

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District has partnered with Burrell Behavioral Health to launch a pilot program providing school-based mental health services at seven LSR7 schools. The partnership was finalized on Thursday, Feb. 24, when the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Board of Education unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding that will allow LSR7 students to benefit from Burrell’s multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) approach to school-based mental health care.

“The partnership with Burrell provides valuable social-emotional and behavioral support services to students in the setting where children spend a significant amount of time: school,” said Dr. Rexanne Hill, executive director of student support for the Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools. “This program, coupled with the meaningful support that LSR7 students receive from our dedicated counseling and ed therapist team, empowers us to expand our commitment to student and staff wellness at a time when supporting the mental health of our school community is as important as ever.”

Starting in February 2022, school based mental and behavioral health centers will begin at Lee’s Summit High School, Pleasant Lea Middle School, Lee’s Summit Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, Trailridge Elementary, Sunset Valley Elementary and Underwood Elementary. Onsite therapeutic and case management services for eligible students and families will be provided, in addition to training and consultation for school faculty as needed. Linking students and families to support services and increasing student engagement at school are just a few of the outcomes of the partnership. The remaining schools in LSR7 will have a semester phase-in process, and every school will receive this opportunity over the next two school years.

“Schools are perhaps the most important place for life-saving behavioral health services to be accessible to students and families,” said Burrell Behavioral Health President & CEO Dr. C.J. Davis. “As a Lee’s Summit High School graduate myself, I know first-hand the quality of education LSR7 students receive. Burrell is proud to supplement this learning with evidence-based, trauma-informed mental health services that will change lives.”

The implementation of school-based health centers in LSR7 aligns with the district’s strategic plan commitments dedicated to student and staff wellness.

About the Partnership
In 2018, the rule for Medicaid eligible services for Missouri students was revised and expanded to allow behavioral health services to be reimbursed in schools. This significant change opened the door for providers to assist students by providing services within the school setting for a range of mental health issues. Burrell’s school-based services department partners with 70 school districts across central and southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas with the goal of increasing rapid access to mental health care.

About Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools
Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools is the sixth largest school district in Missouri, representing nearly 18,000 students and more than 2,700 employees. LSR-7 has built a nationwide reputation of academic excellence informed by the district mission of preparing each student for success in life. In addition to traditional learning environments across 18 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools, LSR7 provides learning through an alternative secondary school, a secondary technology academy, an early education center and a special-education, day-treatment center, as well as K-12 Online Academy. Visit lsr7.org.

About Burrell Behavioral Health
Burrell Behavioral Health is a growing Community Mental Health Center that connects with more than 40,000 clients across 26 counties in Missouri and Arkansas, including a recent merger with eastern Jackson County CMHC Comprehensive Mental Health Services. Burrell’s provider base of more than 450 clinicians offer a full continuum of care through its integrated network. Burrell creates individualized care plans and its staff collaborates with families, schools, healthcare systems and other networks to provide the appropriate care for each situation. Visit www.burrellcenter.com.

Media Contact:

Katy Bergen, Executive Director of Public Relations, Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools
katy.bergen@lsr7.net
816.986.1094

Matt Lemmon, Vice-President of Communications, Burrell Behavioral Health
matthew.lemmon@burrellcenter.com
417-415-1386