School-Based Services
Mental health support where children spend their day
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School-Based Programming
For many children, the first signs of struggle don’t happen at home — they show up in the classroom.
A child who can’t sit still.
A student who stops turning in work.
A quiet child who slowly withdraws.
What looks like behavior is often something deeper.
Beech Brook’s School-Based Mental Health Services bring support directly into the school day — so children can get the help they need, right when they need it.
Beech Brook partners with schools to provide year-round, on-site mental health support for students in grades K–12.
Our clinicians work directly with students, families, and school staff to create individualized plans that support each child’s needs.
Support is tailored to each child and may* include:
- Individual, group, or family counseling
- Support in the classroom or school environment
- Case management and coordination of care
- Crisis support when needed
- Connection to additional community resources
When needed, support can extend beyond the school day — including home visits and continued care during school breaks — so progress isn’t lost.
*Not every service is available in every school. Our team will work with you to provide the support that best fits your child and your school’s available services.
Want to Learn More?
👤Main Program Contact: Jennifer Bruehler, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Programming
📧 Email: jbruehler@beechbrook.org
📞 Call: 216.831.2255
Contact us to learn more about the different services models of school-based support, including contract-based services, Medicaid-funded services and a combination model.
Why School-Based Programming?
When children are struggling emotionally or behaviorally, learning becomes harder.
They may fall behind, act out, or shut down. And they may begin to feel like they don’t belong. Without support, these challenges can grow — affecting school, relationships, and confidence.
But when support is available early, in a place that feels familiar, everything can begin to change.
Students who receive school-based mental health services often experience:
- Improved attendance and academic performance
- Fewer behavioral disruptions
- Stronger relationships with peers and adults
- Increased confidence and emotional stability
Some children need help with more than just talking through their feelings — they need support learning the everyday skills that help them manage emotions, handle challenges, and succeed across different environments.
REACH is a hands-on, skills-based service that helps children practice real-life strategies they can use at school, at home, and in the community. It often works alongside therapy, giving children more opportunities to build and strengthen the skills they are learning.
Through REACH, children learn how to:
- Manage strong emotions as they happen
- Handle frustration and stress
- Communicate their needs clearly
- Work through conflicts
- Build routines and stay on track
Beech Brook staff work directly with children and families in the environments where challenges are happening — helping them apply these skills in real time.
How School-Based Support Works
Every child’s situation is different — and support should reflect that.
Beech Brook partners with schools in different ways to ensure students can access the level of care they need, whether that’s early support, ongoing therapy, or more intensive services.
Families don’t need to navigate this alone. Our team works alongside you and your child’s school to:
- Understand what your child is experiencing
- Put the right supports in place
- Adjust those supports as your child grows
School-Based Mental Health Services are available to students in participating schools across:
- Cuyahoga County
- Lorain County
- Summit County
- Geauga County
Referrals are typically made by school staff, with families included throughout the process.
Referral Information
Want to get support for a student?
Check whether Beech Brook services are available in your school. If not, your child may still be eligible for home- or community-based services.
Use the referral form below to get started, and a member of our team will follow up.
Your support is helping children & families thrive!
It takes many partners who share our vision of a future where every child and family thrives to keep our mission alive.
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