Michigan’s Department of Education chose in May the bhworks software platform from mdlogix to help schools statewide to gain consent, screen, identify, assess, refer, and monitor treatment for all school-age youth grades K–12. The goal is to reduce youth suicides and other mental health issues, as well as streamline confidential communication among parents, teachers, and providers. bhworks has been offered for use in all 56 Intermediate School Districts (ISDs), potentially reaching 1.5 million
students. With back to school approaching, a number of ISDs are poised to launch the system.
Copper Country ISD (CCISD) is the first of 29 ISDs going live this fall. Located in Hancock, Mich., in the Upper Peninsula, it serves the educational needs of approximately 6,600 students in 14 local school districts; nine K-12, one K-8 and four K-6 districts.
CCISD used bhworks on Aug. 10 to do an initial Social Emotional Learning (SEL) universal screening event in its Northern Lights Summer Program. The program consists of three schools: Hancock Elementary, Chassell Elementary, and Lake Linden-Hubbell public schools.
“It went super smooth,” said Natalie Morgan, LMSW, mental health services coordinator, CCISD. “There were no system glitches, and at one point we were screening 12 students at once. Our time was limited in the morning school schedule, but we got it done.”
bhworks is one of the leading statewide behavioral mental health platforms providing end to end functionality, including system integration and Medicaid billing. It is fulfilling the needs of Michigan ISDs by integrating with existing systems, such as EDPlan, MiDataHub, CompuClaim, and others, to ensure there is no duplication of effort.
The system is HIPAA and FERPA compliant and mdlogix is currently going through the state security certification process for bhworks which will be completed in September.
bhworks can be accessed from any web-enabled device, providing organizations with the tools they need to deliver behavioral health services anywhere people live, work, study, or receive care. The comprehensive software allows school districts in this case to obtain consents and screen whole populations with high efficiency and reliability, help with SEL assessments, offer referrals, communicate via telehealth visits, and securely collect data to see outcomes in real time and adjust resources as needed. It can enhance Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) programs in structure, process, and outcomes aspects.
Natalie explained that they set up in a school computer lab and brought 34 students from kindergarten to 5th grade over an hour and a half period to conduct the online screening and assessment, and then generate reports. Natalie retrieved the students from classrooms and brought them to the computer lab where three additional staff signed the students in. They read the survey to kindergartners and first grade students, while most of the second grade students could read it themselves. Third, fourth and fifth graders were included.
A data dashboard covering core competencies for this event was generated and is being analyzed by CCISD leaders.
“The overall process using bhworks went very well and the ease of use was greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to using this process for additional districts as students start returning to school,” Natalie said.
“After completion of this process, I was contacted by the Hancock Public Schools superintendent and he requested the data be presented at a school-wide professional development day so it can be used to create appropriate SEL lessons for different grade levels,” added Natalie.
Editor’s Note: For more information about Copper Country’s youth mental health program with bhworks, email Natalie Morgan at nmorgan@copperisd.org.
If you or your ISD is interested in bringing bhworks to your school(s), please contact Scott Hutchins, School Mental Health and Medicaid consultant, MDE Office of Health and Nutrition Services at HutchinsS1@michigan.gov or 517-241-7099.