Heather Fullerton, CSF’s school-based services program specialist, shares information for our school-based mental health providers in a four-part video series available now on our YouTube channel.
Outside of their homes, kids spend more time at school than anywhere else. For behavioral health providers who work with kids within the school setting, it’s important the relationship between the school and behavioral health provider is strong. With the start of school around the corner, we at the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund (CSF) are excited to share a new video series to help strengthen that relationship so children are receiving the support and resources they need to be successful.
This four-part series was created with one goal in mind: to make it easier for our partners to feel confident, connected, and supported as they work alongside schools to serve kids and families.
For CSF, school-based services represent more than half of our overall investment in youth mental health. That means a large portion of the programs we support are happening directly where kids spend most of their day. And because school systems are complex—filled with unique schedules, cultures, and needs—we want to make sure organizations have clear expectations and strong tools to build lasting, effective partnerships.
To help with that, our School-Based Services Program Specialist, Heather Fullerton, walks through four key topics:
- School-Based Services Overview
We start with the basics—what school-based services are, why they matter, and how CSF supports partners and schools in building strong connections. If you’re new to school-based work or simply want a refresher, this is the perfect place to begin. - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Expectations
Strong partnerships start with clear agreements. This video reviews CSF’s MOU expectations and points you to the templates and uploading instructions available through the School & Behavioral Health Partnership Guide and Salesforce. - School & Behavioral Health Partnership Guide
Over the years, we’ve learned that thoughtful collaboration is essential for successful school-based services. This guide—available online and linked with the videos—offers best practices for starting, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with schools. Heather highlights the most helpful sections depending on where you are on your partnership journey. The School & Behavioral Health Partnership Guide is available on our website under Handbooks on the Partner Resources Page. - Site Change Request Process
Programs grow and change, and sometimes service locations do too. This video explains how to notify CSF of additions or reductions to school sites, why accurate records matter, and what steps to take in Salesforce to update your information. The Site Change Request form and instructions on how to upload are available on the Salesforce FAQ page.
While this series was created with CSF funded partners in mind, these topics reflect broader themes that impact our whole community: transparency, collaboration, and thoughtful planning. We see these resources as another step toward strengthening the network of people and organizations dedicated to youth well-being in St. Louis County.
To learn more about CSF, our funded partners, and our impact, visit our website at sltcsf.org.