Fresno Unified upped mental health staffing after COVID. Cuts could be coming
To help mitigate a growing budget deficit, Fresno Unified is considering making cuts to its number of mental health specialists, which saw significant growth following the pandemic.
The potential updates were shared as part of the district’s budget development during a meeting last month. Fresno Unified is proposing to remove 27 mental health staffers who work directly with students, including seven counselors, along with 14 child welfare and attendance specialists.
“There are reductions across the district, including staff who provide mental health support. Some of these positions are being sunset as they were one-time-funded positions through COVID relief funds,” said A.J. Kato, a spokesperson for the district.
Decisions about staff layoffs won’t be finalized until the board approved next year’s fiscal budget.
The proposed cuts come as the district seeks to address its projected budget deficit, which has ballooned to $88 million due to higher fill rates for special education and also rising transportation costs. Amid the proposed staffing reductions, Fresno Unified is suggesting to add 12 student-facing mental health roles, including three behavior intervention specialists.
From 2020 to 2025, the number of mental health professionals working at Fresno Unified sites jumped from to 531 from 345 — a 53% increase.
The most pronounced increase was in the district’s number of counselors, which jumped to 161 from 102, or by 57%.
The district also increased its number of social workers and school psychologists by 72% and 40%, respectively, over the past five school years.
Despite any upcoming shifts in mental health staffing, the district says its commitments are unchanging.
The district also is hoping to gain revenue through special grants from the California Children and Youth Behavioral Initiative, a state effort designed to support young Californians’ access to mental health services. That support might include paying schools for providing services, according to the state Department of Health Care Services,” Kato said.
In February, the district sent layoff notices to 274 staff members. A month later, trustees approved eliminating 51 additional positions and services for the 2026-27 school year.
