Mental Health Services in South Carolina IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in South Carolina?
South Carolina provides mental health-related services to students with disabilities through the special education system primarily as 'related services' under Regulation 43-243, consistent with 34 CFR 300.34, which includes psychological services, counseling services, and social work services in schools. For students identified with an Emotional Disability — South Carolina's equivalent of the federal Emotional Disturbance category — the IEP team must address the student's emotional and behavioral needs through IEP goals, services, and behavioral supports. The eligibility criteria for Emotional Disability under Reg. 43-243.1 specifically encompass conditions falling outside expected age, ethnic, and cultural expectations, and include explicit consideration of anxiety and depression under Other Health Impairment when they do not rise to the level of Emotional Disability. The IEP team must consider positive behavioral interventions and supports when behavior impedes learning (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i)), and may include school-based counseling, psychological services, or social work as related services when required for the child to benefit from special education. South Carolina's SCDE OSES provides guidance on behavioral supports and partners with the Department of Mental Health for school-community mental health coordination. The Continuum of Care Policy Council, established under S.C. Code Ann. § 59-33-100, contracts for State Board-approved services for emotionally handicapped pupils.
What South Carolina Requires
Psychological services, counseling services, and social work services in schools are enumerated related services that must be provided when required for the child to benefit from special education (Reg. 43-243; 34 CFR 300.34).
For students with an Emotional Disability, the IEP must address behavioral and emotional needs through goals, services, and positive behavioral supports (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i); Reg. 43-243.1, Section F).
Parent counseling and training is an enumerated related service that may be included in the IEP when needed to assist parents in understanding their child's needs and supporting special education goals (34 CFR 300.34).
The Continuum of Care Policy Council contracts for State Board-approved services for emotionally handicapped pupils (S.C. Code Ann. § 59-33-100).
Anxiety and depression that do not rise to the level of Emotional Disability may be addressed under Other Health Impairment (OHI) eligibility (Reg. 43-243.1, Section I).
The IEP team must consider whether the child needs behavioral interventions and supports when behavior impedes learning (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i)).
Key Timelines
Mental health related services must be provided beginning on the start date specified in the IEP (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
Mental health service provisions must be reviewed at the annual IEP meeting, at minimum every 12 months (34 CFR 300.324(b)).