Public schools must arrange mental health care for students

Each public school must arrange mental health care for students. A school may designate staff to provide the care, arrange services with a community mental health provider, or arrange services through the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services program.

The Department of Children and Families runs an 18-month SPARK pilot and, unless it recommends against statewide participation, expands the program to all school districts. The pilot tests ways to increase students’ and families’ access to and use of SPARK services. The navigator provides services such as assessments, referrals, short-term medication help, and support for students returning after a crisis. The department selects up to ten districts in consultation with the Department of Education and the program’s clinical navigator. The department reports its findings and recommendation to the Governor and Legislature within 60 days after the pilot ends. The pilot begins January 1, 2027, and ends after 18 months. The statewide program follows the pilot unless the department recommends against it.

The Department of Children and Families must seek proposals for a state contract for a mobile mental health application. The app is for school-aged youth and their families. The app must offer universal, age-appropriate mental health information and resources for school-aged youth and their families. Seeking proposals does not require the department to award a contract.

Participating school districts must report SPARK data each year, and the Department of Children and Families must publish the data on a searchable public website. The duties apply to participating districts and cover SPARK pilot and statewide program data. Districts report annually.