About WV Expanded

School Mental Health

The West Virginia Expanded School Mental Health (ESMH) initiative was formed in 2007 as a partnership and shared commitment between the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Behavioral Health, and the Marshall University School of Medicine to expand access to mental health services for all students through a multitiered system of supports.

West Virginia has been a national leader in the Expanded School Mental Health movement for over a decade. The number of expanded school mental health sites across the state has grown under the guidance of a statewide steering team of collaborative partners.  Expanded School Mental Health school sites are primarily funded by WV DHHR Bureau for Behavioral Health, and WV AWARE grants, though additional sites are self-implementing via diversified funding to deliver a multi-tiered system supports. The number of sites implementing ESMH continues to grow.