Mental Health Services in Wyoming IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in Wyoming?
Wyoming does not have a standalone statute specifically governing mental health services in IEPs, but students with disabilities who require mental health supports as part of their special education program are entitled to those services through the IEP process under WY Rules Ch. 7 and federal IDEA. Psychological services, counseling services, and social work services are recognized as related services that may be included in an IEP (34 CFR 300.34). The Wyoming Department of Education collaborates with the Wyoming Department of Health's Behavioral Health Division and the Wyoming Department of Family Services to coordinate mental health services for children with disabilities. Emotionally disturbed students (under the 'emotional disturbance' category) are entitled to specially designed instruction and related services to address their social-emotional and behavioral needs. Wyoming's MTSS framework emphasizes tiered mental health supports in schools.
What Wyoming Requires
Psychological services, counseling services, and school social work services are recognized related services that must be included in the IEP if required to benefit from special education (WY Rules Ch. 7 § 7; 34 CFR 300.34(c)(2), (10), (14)).
Students identified under the 'emotional disturbance' disability category are entitled to specially designed instruction and related services addressing social-emotional and behavioral needs as part of FAPE (WY Rules Ch. 7 § 5; 34 CFR 300.8(c)(4)).
Wyoming agencies (WDE, Wyoming DOH Behavioral Health Division, DFS) are expected to coordinate in providing mental health services for students with disabilities (WY Rules Ch. 7; 34 CFR 300.154 — interagency responsibilities)).
When mental health services are identified in the IEP, the LEA must ensure they are provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (WY Rules Ch. 7 § 2; 34 CFR 300.17).
Medicaid may be billed for some IEP-related mental health services with parental consent, consistent with Wyoming Medicaid rules and 34 CFR 300.154(d).
Key Timelines
Mental health-related services in the IEP must begin on the projected start date and are reviewed at least annually (WY Rules Ch. 7 § 7(e)).
Interagency disputes over responsibility for mental health services must be resolved without delay in providing services to the student (34 CFR 300.154(a)).