Press Release: The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Awards $15,000 Grant to Ozark Center for Behavioral Health Training in Southwest Missouri Schools

The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Missouri (“Molina”), awarded a $15,000 grant to the Ozark Center, an entity of Freeman Health System, to launch the Rural Behavioral Health Rapid Access and Transition Coordination Pilot. The grant will fund training for school staff, educational resources for families, and stronger referral pathways in rural school districts in the Joplin area.

In Missouri, 105,000 adolescents experience a major depressive episode each year.  Schools are often where a student’s struggle is first noticed. Last year, more than 58% of public schools reported an increase in the percentage of students seeking school-based mental health services. 

“Access to behavioral healthcare is limited in rural communities, and schools are often on the front lines of identifying students in need,” said Vicky Mieseler, chief executive officer at Ozark Center. “With Molina’s funding, we will train school staff in the Joplin area to recognize and respond to behavioral health challenges, provide families with practical information and referral resources, and connect students to support before concerns escalate to a crisis.” 

Grant funds will pay for behavioral health awareness and early identification training for teachers, counselors, administrators, and school nurses. It will also support printed and digital education materials, referral guides, and prevention resources for students and families as well as parent engagement and community awareness events. Ozark Center expects to train 50 to 100 school personnel directly and reach up to 2,000 students and their families indirectly.

“Access to behavioral health resources is key to helping young people build resiliency, overcome challenges and stay in school,” said Jay Ludlam, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Missouri. “By partnering with the Ozark Center, Molina is helping create a sustainable model that can strengthen school-based supports for Missouri youth in rural areas.”

Findings from the pilot, including training results and family engagement data, will be used to determine whether the model can be extended to additional districts.