Back to School: Why SLO County Schools Are Asking for Health Insurance Information
San Luis Obispo, CA — July 31, 2026 — As families across San Luis Obispo County begin completing annual back-to-school paperwork, many will notice something new this year: a request for their child’s health insurance information and consent to bill insurance for school-based behavioral and mental health services.
The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education (SLOCOE) wants to reassure families that behavioral and mental health services at SLO County public schools will remain completely free. Providing insurance information helps local schools secure state funding to keep these important programs running for years to come.
The request stems from a first-of-its-kind initiative in the nation, part of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), to help sustain school-linked behavioral health services. Under the CYBHI, California now requires private health insurance companies and Medi-Cal to reimburse schools for the on-campus behavioral and mental health care they already provide.
Nearly 200 school districts, colleges, and affiliated providers across California are already participating and receiving reimbursements through the CYBHI program, financed by 40+ health plans. Already in SLO County, Lucia Mar, San Luis Coastal, and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education launched and are scaling up billing under this program. This fall, Paso Robles and Templeton are ready to start.
“Schools have long offered services such as counseling, screenings for anxiety and depression, and crisis support, often funded through temporary grants,” remarks Melanie Crawford, Director of Continuous Improvement and CYBHI Lead for SLOCOE. “However, when budgets tighten, we often see supports beyond the classroom the first to be cut. This initiative helps keep those services in place, recognizing that social-emotional well-being is critical to academic success.”
Referred to as the CYBHI Fee Schedule, this mandated reimbursement replaces uncertainty with a stable, long-term funding source, allowing schools to keep offering these vital services well into the future.
Local school officials emphasize that this change comes with strong protections for families:
- Zero cost to families. No copays, no deductibles, and no out-of-pocket bills.
- No impact on insurance. Monthly premiums will not increase, and school-based services will not use up or limit the mental health visits your child receives from outside professionals.
- No impact on special education. Services guaranteed under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) remain completely unaffected.
Family privacy remains a top priority. All information shared is encrypted and protected under strict federal and state privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Importantly, every student can receive behavioral and mental health support regardless of insurance coverage, immigration status, or whether a parent chooses to provide insurance information. Declining to share insurance details does not limit a student’s access to care.
SLOCOE encourages all families to:
- Complete the insurance and consent forms during online registration or when checking in enrollment packets.
- Reach out with questions. Families can contact their child’s school site or district office for more information about the CYBHI Fee Schedule and what it means for their student.
For more information about the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and supports available to your student, families are encouraged to contact their school or district office or visit cybhi.slocoe.org.
