Funding for School Based Health Care Mental Health Services is Essential for Latino Youth

Youth mental health is in crisis. Many Latino youth, who have a higher burden of mental health illness than other racial/ethnic groups, depend on integrated school-based mental health services within their School Based Health Centers (SBHCs). Recent federal emphasis on deportation of undocumented immigrants, and decrease in "sensitive locations," or places where immigration enforcement actions are generally restricted, such as schools, will likely cause more psychological trauma in the 25% of Latino US youth. Funding for mental health services within SBHCs is critical for maintaining these important mental health services for Latino youth during a critical time.