On September 30, 2019, 111 city leaders, staff and administrators from local public schools, school-based clinicians and representatives from various community-based organizations convened at the National Press Club to launch the DC School Behavioral Health Community of Practice (CoP).
In the opening remarks, Dr. Bazron, the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, spoke about the community role in supporting the city-wide behavioral health expansion initiative and the urgency of this work. Dr. Olga Acosta Price, the Director of the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools at the George Washington University, invited all stakeholders to join conversations about strategies and best practices in comprehensive school behavioral health systems. Other invited speakers included members of the District of Columbia City Council, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, family and youth leaders. They inspired participants to work together to build strong partnerships that will lead to high-quality behavioral health programs in schools.