Description: Join us for the second webinar in our Youth Behavioral Health Series, where we will explore Washington State’s Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (BH-SAP). This initiative, created by the state’s nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in response to the pandemic, aims to expand student mental health support by integrating behavioral health services into the school system. The BH-SAP model, promoted by SAMHSA, moves away from specialized care, using paraprofessionals—Student Assistance Professionals (SAPs)—with associate or bachelor’s degrees to provide direct services and interventions to students. This model enhances support and reduces reliance on highly credentialed specialists.

The webinar will feature a statewide manager, program evaluator, and regional coordinator who will discuss Washington’s BH-SAP implementation, highlighting regional coordination, statewide collaboration, and its impact on students. Data on the program’s effectiveness and its role in supporting youth across three tiers of behavioral health will also be shared. Participants will learn about innovative strategies and how ESDs and community-based organizations collaborate to provide critical support, with a focus on how other states can replicate Washington’s model to improve youth well-being and academic success. The ultimate goal will be to aid systems of care leaders and providers to understand how other agencies and states might benefit from Washington’s BH-SAP program to enhance youth well-being and academic success.

Date: Tuesday, March 11, 12-1:00 PM PT Virtually


We plan to record the webinar and post the recording on our website after the event. 

Scheduled Speakers:

• Erin L. Wick, MBA, SUDP- Behavioral Health COVID Response State Lead; Executive Director, Integrated Student Support – Intervention, Prevention, Treatment and Wellness; Capital Region ESD 113
• Eric J. Bruns, PhD- Professor of Psychiatry, UW School of Medicine and Associate Director, UW SMART Center
• Adriana Mercado- Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator, ESD 123