Hamilton County Schools is seeking new mental health providers following a contentious school board decision to end its long-standing partnership with Centerstone – a move that has drawn both support and backlash across the community.
Centerstone, a nonprofit behavioral health organization, has provided free school-based mental health services in Hamilton County since 2013 under a memorandum of understanding with the district. The Hamilton County Board of Education voted 6-5 in September to end that agreement, formally removing Centerstone counselors and therapists from 50 schools and affecting thousands of students.
The board had tabled an earlier vote to renew the contract in August, and when the proposal returned the following month, members rejected it. The decision followed weeks of debate over Centerstone’s role in schools, including concerns from some board members about parental involvement and the organization’s views.
Board members raise concerns
According to Local 3 News, several board members questioned Centerstone’s approach to student mental health and argued that parents – not outside organizations – should be central to their children’s upbringing. These concerns ultimately swayed the board to end the contract and seek multiple vendors rather than rely on a single provider.
In response, Hamilton County Schools released a request for proposals inviting multiple organizations to provide student mental health services on a non-exclusive basis and at no cost to the district. The goal, officials said, is to give families more choices and ensure services are “holistic and tailored” to students’ needs.
Services will be provided outside core instructional time, and vendors will be evaluated based on their qualifications, experience, service approach, personnel protocols and insurance billing practices. A list of qualifying providers is expected to be presented to the board for approval in November.
Community pushback
The board’s decision sparked swift reaction from parents, principals and community members who say Centerstone’s services have been a lifeline for many families. Supporters gathered to protest outside board meetings, calling for the contract’s reinstatement and criticizing the lack of public input sessions.
Dan Mansfield, Centerstone’s regional vice president for Tennessee, addressed the controversy during an Oct. 6 news conference held via Zoom. He said the organization wanted to clarify “facts versus fiction” surrounding its work in Hamilton County schools.
“Centerstone had a memorandum of understanding to provide school-based behavioral health services in Hamilton County for more than a decade,” Mansfield said. “When the Hamilton County Board of Education terminated the MOU, it removed Centerstone’s services from 50 schools and affected thousands of students.”
Mansfield disputed claims that Centerstone excludes parents from the treatment process. He emphasized that written parental consent is required before any student receives services and that parents review and sign care plans. He noted that Tennessee law grants minors aged 16 and older certain rights to outpatient treatment, but even in those cases, Centerstone “advocates for parents and guardians to participate.”
He also responded to criticism about provider oversight, saying all Centerstone therapists are master’s-level professionals who undergo fingerprinting and background checks at the district’s request.
“Our therapists are held to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct,” he said.
Some board members and residents raised concerns about LGBTQ-related content on Centerstone’s website. Mansfield said the materials in question are remnants of past federal grant programs and are not part of school-based therapy.
“This website content is not used or distributed as part of our school-based therapy services,” he said, adding that Centerstone regularly updates its site and welcomes community feedback to remove outdated materials.
Centerstone to compete in new process
Despite the contract termination, Mansfield said Centerstone intends to participate in the district’s new competitive bidding process.
“We are happy to put our qualifications and capabilities through a test in an RFP or RFQ (request for proposals or qualifications) process,” he said.
He stressed that the organization is not seeking to privatize public services but to complement the district’s $23 million investment in school mental health.
“Data show that students in school-based therapy have better attendance, stronger test scores and improved social skills,” he said, citing national studies. “Students who receive school-based therapy also have lower rates of suspension due to behavioral problems.”
Mansfield concluded by reaffirming Centerstone’s mission to provide evidence-based, nonpolitical mental health care to all students.
“Behavioral health care is not political,” he said. “Stronger and more resilient people can build a stronger, more resilient nation where help is recognized as a human need.”
What’s next
The district’s request for proposals is open, with submissions to be evaluated over the coming weeks. The school board is expected to consider a slate of potential providers in November, potentially reshaping how mental health services are delivered to students across Hamilton County.
Meanwhile, families who relied on Centerstone’s services are navigating an uncertain landscape. Mansfield reminded residents that Centerstone’s community services remain available outside of schools, including through its crisis line at 988 and its own hotline at 877-HOPE123.
Sources: Hamilton County Schools; Centerstone; Local News 3