ERMHS: Educationally Related Mental Health Services

History

In 1984, Assembly Bill 3632 statutorily required a partnership between school districts and county mental health agencies to deliver mental health services to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). In 2011, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 114, which repealed the state mandate on special education and county mental health agencies and eliminated related references to mental health services in California statute. As a result of this new legislation, school districts are solely responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities receive special education and related services to meet their needs according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004.

Mental health as a related service is identified as mental health services necessary for a student to benefit from their special education program. Within the educational environment these can include assessment of needs for mental health services, crisis intervention within the educational setting, outpatient counseling, case management, parent consultation, and/or residential placement recommendations. Please note that medication management is not included among these services since federal guidelines consider it a medically necessary and not an educationally necessary service.

What are Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS)?

Educationally-Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) are services provided when students have significant socio-emotional or socio-behavioral needs that impede their ability to benefit from their special education services. There must be a direct relationship between the emotional/behavioral characteristics and the lack of benefit from current special education programming and services. This may be shown as a lack of progress on goals/objectives, declining grades, absences, suspensions, etc. A referral is appropriate when these concerns are determined to be associated with a condition that cannot be described solely as a temporary adjustment problem that can be resolved with less than three months of school counseling. Students eligible for mental health services are not just those identified under the category of Emotional Disturbance but can be those of any special education eligibility category.

Tehama County Regional ERMHS

In the 2016-2017 school year, Tehama County Department of Education (TCDE) made significant changes to the way its Educationally Related Mental Health Services were organized and provided. Prior to this year, TCDE had contracted with outside agencies to meet the AB 114 requirement. TCDE now operates a regional ERMHS program and provides services that is operated directly by TCDE and staffed by TCDE mental health clinicians. While County providers still play an essential role in providing for our special education students, the services specifically designed to address mental health within the school system and to enhance school-based outcomes are provided by TCDE staff. The benefit of this change continues to enhance communication between schools and mental health providers and to further emphasize system-of-care values and principles.

Our Philosophy

The Tehama County Regionalized ERMHS program collaborates with school-based teams to provide services to students on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). It is the goal of this program to help students with social-emotional and behavioral challenges to recognize their own capacity for personal growth and positive educational outcomes. In our practice we emphasize evidence-based practice and data-based decision making. We also emphasize the importance of accommodating students in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and maintaining the dignity of students and families through all services and interventions that we provide. Research has indicated that outcomes for children and adolescents with social-emotional challenges can be greatly enhanced through interventions that (a) are sustained, flexible, positive, collaborative, culturally appropriate, and regularly evaluated; (b) are built on the strengths of the students and their families; and (c) address academic as well as social behavioral deficits (Bullock and Gable, 2006). We aim to provide services that meet these criteria while empowering the student to be the primary voice in his/her own treatment goals and services.

A Continuum of Mental Health Services

Infographic showing three tiers of mental health services presented as a pyramidThe Educationally Related Mental Health program exists within a comprehensive framework where resources are organized on a continuum of intensity based on a student's social-emotional and behavioral needs. This continuum of supports ensures prompt responses to mental health concerns appearing in the educational setting. It also ensures that mental health supports and resources are aligned with student need and that the Least Restrictive Environment is always a priority.

Meet Our Team

Aubrie Fulk — Director

Headshot of Aubrie Fulk

Hello, I am honored to serve as the Director of Student, Family, and District Support for the Tehama County Department of Education and Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), as well as a Licensed Educational Psychologist. In this role, I oversee the SELPA’s model school-based mental health program for students with disabilities and support Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and prevention efforts for families and districts.

I am passionate about creating a continuum of support for families and districts in Tehama County and being part of the statewide work to strengthen dispute prevention and resolution while preserving relationships between families and schools. I am also proud to be part of the Statewide System of Support as a Special Education Resource Lead (SERL) in Alternative Dispute Resolution through Pathways to Partnership, a consortium of the Tehama County SELPA, Ventura County SELPA, Tehama County Department of Education, and Ventura County Office of Education.

I graduated from the Straus Institute for Dispute Prevention at Pepperdine University School of Law and earned my Master of Science in School Psychology and Administrative Services Credential from National University. My career in education began as a school psychologist serving preschool students and as an Early Start intervention specialist supporting infants with disabilities.

I feel very fortunate to call beautiful Northern California home and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Greg Fisher — Clinical Supervisor

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Hello, my name is Greg Fisher and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in the area of school social work.  This will be my 9th year in the field. I am very thankful to be working here and I attribute that to the amazing students and families I work with, the wonderful ERMHS team we have here and to highly knowledgeable and supportive leaders.

Prior to becoming the Clinical Supervisor for this program, I was an ERMHS Clinician. I received a Master's of Social Work degree from CSU Sacramento and obtained my Bachelor's degree from CSU East Bay. Professionally, I try to support our Tehama County schools, ERMHS Clinicians, and most importantly students and families. I describe myself as a strong advocate for students, their rights, and self-determination through utilizing the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model (CBT). CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion). and how we act (behavior) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and our behavior. Outside of the work setting, I am a diehard sports fan, I enjoy the outdoors, and spending time with family.

Go Giants!!!

Mandy Woodman — ERMHS Clinician

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Hello! My name is Mandy Woodman, I have been a licensed Marriage and family therapist since 2012 and have worked as an ERMHS clinician in Tehama County for about ten years. I obtained my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from CSU San Bernardino. I started out my career working with adults in an intensive outpatient program providing group and individual therapy for over ten years. I made a move up to Northern CA in 2016 and was excited to shift gears and explore working with children and their families. I feel very grateful to be a part of such an amazing team and to build relationships with my students, their families and school districts within the Tehama County communities. The students I have worked with have taught me so much and their unique talents and personalities have been a joy to experience. Watching them succeed and grow makes me feel blessed to have the privilege to walk with them through the ups and downs that life brings.

Ellie Ogsbury — ERMHS Clinician

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Hi there, I am Ellie Ogsbury, one of the ERMHS clinicians working with our amazing team of professionals providing mental health services to our special education students here in Tehama County. This is my ninth year working with the county. I earned my graduate degree with a focus on School Psychology and worked as a county Psychologist with Tehama County Department of Education for four years before transitioning to another program for the county where I was able to provide more direct one on one services with students and families. When the opportunity arose to return to the SELPA to provide services to our special education population once again, I jumped on it and have had the pleasure of working with the ERMHS team. My passion for working with children and families stems from my own childhood experiences. Finding my positive adult role model in my own school counselor helped me realize that was the path I wanted to follow as well. All children need to have a positive adult to help guide them when needed, and I have always aspired to be that for those students in need. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the students and families here in Tehama County.

Natasha Cummings — ERMHS Clinician

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Hello, my name is Natasha Cummings. I am an Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) Clinician with the Tehama County Department of Education. I am grateful to work alongside the amazing students, families, and staff in Tehama County.

My career began working with children ages 0–5, which led me to study Early Childhood Education. I later discovered my passion for social work and attended Cal Poly Humboldt, where I earned my Bachelor of Social Work in 2021. Before joining the Tehama County Department of Education, I spent nearly five years working in a hospital setting, providing social services and support to older adults.

I am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work through Capella University’s Advanced Standing program and completing my practicum hours. I am passionate about working with children and families and supporting them in reaching their goals. I feel fortunate to bring my education, experience, and passion to this work and to have the opportunity to share what I have learned with others.

Becky Fisher — ERMHS Clinician

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Hello, my name is Becky Fisher and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a training emphasis and passion for working with children and teens. I find that working with children brings me happiness and allows me to give back to the community, as I am proudly born and raised in Northern California. I received my Master’s Degree from the beautiful campus of Chico State and have been in the ERMHS field as well as providing general school-based counseling services for many years. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked as a social worker providing community resources to families in need, working with the Child Abuse Prevention Council and also provided national community service through AmeriCorps. I am a proud mom to three sons and love to travel in my free time. Everyday I wake up thankful that I am able to serve others and have a career that I love. 

Mellissa Owens — Behavior Analyst Supervisor

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Hello, my name is Mellissa. I am passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of students and families and am proud to serve as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with the Tehama County Department of Education’s Special Education team.

My work focuses on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and I bring valuable experience providing in-home ABA services to support students with a variety of needs. In my role, I provide individualized support to help students develop essential skills, increase independence, and address behaviors that may interfere with their success.

I understand the unique challenges that students and families may experience, and I believe in creating meaningful, individualized interventions that build on each student’s strengths. I enjoy collaborating closely with parents, caregivers, and educational teams to create a supportive approach that extends beyond the classroom.

I am grateful for the opportunity to use my experience and passion to support students and families. My goal is to help create lasting, positive change and empower students with the skills they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

Brittney Gilbert — Behavior Support Specialist

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Hello, I'm Brittney Gilbert. I'm a Behavior Support Specialist, and I absolutely love working and helping students in special education. I've been working in this field for six years, starting as a 1:1 paraprofessional and then becoming a Special Education teacher. Right from the beginning, I found that I have a natural talent for connecting with students and giving them the support they need to do well in school and feel good about themselves. This made me want to pursue a career in Applied Behavior Analysis. This specialization has allowed me to shift my scope towards the behavior aspect of Special Education. My main focus is on understanding each student's unique needs and finding ways to meet them. I believe in creating a safe and inclusive environment where students can grow, be independent, and feel confident in themselves.

As a Behavior Support Specialist, I use my knowledge and experience to make behavior management plans that are custom-made for each student. I work closely with students, parents, and other teachers to create a team that supports each student and helps them succeed in and out of school.I'm always learning and staying up-to-date with the latest ideas in special education. I want to keep improving my skills so I can give my students the best support possible. I truly love what I do, and I consider it a privilege to be a part of the special education community.

Christina Stewart — ERMHS Clinician

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Hello, my name is Christina “Tina” Stewart. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and have been licensed since 2015. I am proud to be part of the Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) team and am excited to support students, families, and school staff throughout our local schools.

I have experience working with children of all ages, most recently supporting children ages 0–5 through preventive early intervention services. I also have extensive training and experience working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, as well as children and families involved with the Child Welfare System.

I am certified in several evidence-based interventions and look forward to bringing my experience, knowledge, and passion to my work with students. I value collaboration with school staff and parents and believe that working together creates a strong support system that helps students feel successful and thrive.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our students and families and look forward to building meaningful connections within our school communities.

Shaylee Nannery — ERMHS Clinician

Hi! My name is Shaylee Nannery. As an Educationally Related Mental Health Clinician entering my second year in Special Education with the Tehama County Department of Education, I am proud to be part of a team that is deeply motivated to lift others up and engage in their successes. I am truly inspired by the work we do every day to support our students, schools and communities.

My background includes rich experience across a variety of intensive support roles. I have served as a medical social worker in long-term care and hospice, worked on a crisis response team, and supported youth and families through crisis stabilization. Transitioning into Special Education has felt like a natural evolution of my career, allowing me to channel this diverse clinical skillset into meaningful, everyday student advocacy.

My practice is always rooted in a trauma-informed approach and guided by unconditional positive regard for my students and their families. I firmly believe that positive adult interactions are incredibly impactful for young people facing daily challenges. My intention is to be that compassionate, steady and supportive adult, advocating for my students' overall well-being and empowering them with the practical skills they need to navigate their educational experience and beyond.

I hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sonoma State University. I am currently pursuing my Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential.

Northern California has my heart and is my true home. Born and raised in this area, I am grateful for the natural beauty right outside my front door. I spend my personal time practicing yoga and taking photos. I love being on my mountain bike, exploring new places and engaging in personal development.