New Jersey § 30:5b-35

§ 30:5b-35.

a. In awarding contracts to provide School-Linked Services, the Department of Children

and Families shall give priority to new applicants and applicants seeking to expand

current programs that, at minimum, include in their application a center or other

entity that focuses on providing individual, family, and group clinical mental health

counseling services to students. The center or other entity shall offer to students services that include, but are

not limited to, the following: (1) access to mental health counseling services during, before, or after school hours;

and (2) access to clinical mental health professional staff, who may be school district

employees, that provide mental health counseling services to students including in-person

or telehealth or telemedicine services, as applicable and as permitted by law. The Department of Children and Families shall give priority consideration to new applicants

and applicants seeking to expand current programs that offer the services included

in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection immediately upon the effective date of

this act. b. Of the new applicants and applicants seeking to expand current programs that include

in their application a center or other entity in accordance with subsection a. of

this section, the Department of Children and Families shall consider factors including

but not limited to the following in making a determination when awarding contracts

to provide School-Linked Services: (1) whether the applicant is, currently operates in, or proposes to operate in a school

district that is designated as a “high-need” school district, as determined by metrics

set by the Commissioner of Children and Families; (2) the existence of a partnership between the center or other entity and community

mental health providers and existing community resources; (3) whether the applicant has developed a plan for mental health professionals working

in its center or other entity to develop curricula to train students and staff on

identifying the signs of mental health conditions and addressing risk factors that

may impact student mental health; and (4) whether the center or other entity created by the applicant can ensure access

to clinical mental health professional staff who specialize in a variety of mental

health areas, or demonstrates a plan to retain the services of clinical mental health

professionals in a variety of mental health areas. c. For purposes of this section, “ applicant ” means a school district, school, or other eligible entity seeking to be awarded

a contract to provide School-Linked Services. The term shall include new applicants as well as a school district, school, or other

eligible entity that is seeking to expand current programs under an existing contract

to provide School-Linked Services.