Students at the Paso Robles High School Wellness Center

County of SLO Behavioral Health Expands Student Mental Health Support With $300,000 Wellness Center Investment to Local High Schools

Author: Behavioral Health
Date: 6/1/2026 8:17 AM

Eight local high schools receive grant funding to strengthen on-campus behavioral health and wellness services.

For many students in San Luis Obispo County, the ability to access mental health support during the school day can make all the difference.

“Having services at the school has meant that I was able to get the support I needed,” shared one San Luis Obispo County high school student. “My family has had a lot of stress and changes this year. If I had to go to a clinic for mental health services, I don’t think it would have happened.”
Stories like these are driving a growing investment in school-based wellness services across San Luis Obispo County.

The County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department (SLOBHD) today announced the launch of the “Pathways to Student Wellness” grant initiative, awarding $300,000 to expand on-campus wellness centers at eight local high schools. Administered through the County’s Behavioral Health Prevention and Outreach Services Division, the grant program awards each participating campus with $37,500 to strengthen behavioral health and social-emotional supports tailored to student needs.

“Expanding behavioral health and social-emotional learning services on school campuses through wellness centers creates meaningful opportunities for students to access support where they learn and grow every day,” said Mandee Culbert, LPCC, PPSC, Behavioral Health Supervisor for the County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department. “The Behavioral Health Department is proud to partner with our local school districts in expanding these important services while remaining committed to pursuing additional sustainable school-based behavioral health opportunities through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.”

All participating campuses received the first of four scheduled grant disbursements during Spring 2026 and have already begun using the funding to expand services and resources on campus.

Austin Miller, LCSW, who oversees services at the San Luis Obispo High School Wellness Center, said the funding helps strengthen the school’s ability to provide layered and responsive support to students.

“The SLOHS Wellness Center has been able to offer a wide range of services to meet the variety of needs of students here — everything from a calming space for a reset during the school day to individualized treatment offered through Behavioral Health,” Miller said. “A highlight this year has been a number of students who self-referred for assistance with substance use and were able to receive that support through our Behavioral Health staff. This pathway for support speaks volumes to the collaboration between Behavioral Health services and the Wellness Center as a resource students and families trust.”

The “Pathways to Student Wellness” grants are funded through California’s Behavioral Health Student Services Act (BHSSA), administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority. The County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Department applied for the funding specifically to support local schools and districts in expanding student mental wellness resources and strengthening systems connected to California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) and Student Assistance Programming.

To measure long-term impact and ensure accountability, participating schools will report wellness center outcomes to the County twice annually. Data collected — including the number of students served and the types of services provided — will help identify emerging behavioral health needs, assess service gaps, and guide future program planning and investment.

“This strategic funding comes at a pivotal moment in the evolving landscape of statewide behavioral health,” said Frank Warren, Interim Behavioral Health Director for the County of San Luis Obispo. “By securing and distributing these BHSSA resources, the County aims to complement existing local investments in California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. This effort reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in the long-term wellbeing of children, students, and families throughout San Luis Obispo County.”

More information about County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Services, including youth behavioral health supports and school-based services, is available at www.SLOBehavioralHealth.org.