Plan Would Add 4 Therapists at Schools

Four mental health therapists would be added to local schools under a plan to expand a partnership between Ventura County and its school districts to be considered Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The program, approved two years ago by county supervisors, seeks to keep emotionally disturbed children in the classroom instead of in costly home-based school programs, county Mental Health Director Randall Feltman said.

Extra psychiatrists are needed because the number of emotionally disturbed schoolchildren has more than doubled in the past six years, Feltman said.

In 1988, the county served 150 emotionally disturbed children in special-education classes at various campuses. State law requires that a public education be available to all special-education students.

But when the number of such children climbed to 241 by 1992, county schools officials began looking for ways to limit the number of special-education children being taught at home, Feltman said.

Since 1992, the number of emotionally disturbed children in special-education classes has jumped from 241 to 321, he said. “I don’t think we have more emotionally disturbed kids,” Feltman said. “The main thing is that this legislation is becoming better known.”

Costs for the $170,000 expansion will be shared by the school districts and Ventura County, which will be eligible for reimbursements for its portion from state Medi-Cal funds.