What Happens Next

You've applied to serve as a Transitional Coach℠. Here is every step between now and your first day on a campus, what each one requires from you, and how long it takes.

The Process

1

Credential Review

We review your graduate degree, your professional license, and your clinical experience against the qualifications for the state where you applied. Qualifications vary somewhat by state.

What you do: Nothing. We'll reach out if anything is missing from your file.

2

Interview Coordination

Once your credentials are reviewed and you are deemed qualified, we send an introduction email to the school principal and program coordinator with your qualifications attached. You are copied.

That email carries a target date. The interview must be scheduled on or before it. If the target date falls on a weekend, it moves to the next business day.

What you do: Reply all to the introduction email to lock in your time. Contact the school administrators directly using the contacts provided. Follow up every other day until the interview is on the calendar, and copy grants@sbhsnetwork.com on your correspondence so we can track where things stand.

3

The Interview

You meet with the school administrators. They are assessing fit for their campus and their students.

One thing to know going in: school administrators cannot address compensation. If you have questions in that area, email grants@sbhsnetwork.com before your interview, not during it.

4

The School's Decision

The principal's decision typically follows shortly after the interview. You are generally notified within a few days.

5

Your Agreement

If you are selected, your agreement is sent for electronic signature within 24 hours of the school's decision. It arrives by email and is signed electronically — nothing to print, scan, or mail.

What you do: Sign and return it. If anything in it isn't clear, email grants@sbhsnetwork.com and we'll walk you through it.

6

District Clearance and Training

Several things begin the moment you sign, and they run in parallel rather than one after another.

District clearance. The school district — not SBHSN — handles background screening. The process typically runs 2 to 4 weeks depending on how quickly fingerprints, district checks, and paperwork move.

Enrollment. You'll complete a short set of enrollment steps covering your payment setup, your EMR documentation system access, and your credentialing. These move alongside district clearance, not after it.

Your training. You'll receive an email with access to a self-paced training covering documentation standards, the systems you'll use, telehealth services, and program implementation. Roughly two hours. It must be completed before you go live on campus.

Questions

Before Your Interview

Do I set my own schedule?+

Yes. You have full autonomy over your time. In your first month we recommend 25 to 30 hours per week while you become familiar with the campus and build your caseload. A five-hour day is the pattern most Transitional Coaches℠ settle into.

Can I keep my current clinical work?+

Transitional Coaches℠ commonly maintain practice outside of school hours, and your existing professional obligations are expected to continue. The specifics of your participation are set out in your agreement.

Is health coverage provided?+

Coaches arrange their own coverage. Every coach's needs are different — Healthcare.gov and Freelancers Union are two resources coaches have found useful for individual plans. Contact them directly for plan details.

What about compensation, rates, and payment timing?+

These are handled individually rather than on this page, because the answer depends on your state and your agreement. Email grants@sbhsnetwork.com and we'll respond directly. If you're weighing an offer, send those questions before your interview — school administrators can't address compensation during it.

Am I responsible for lunchroom duty, hall duty, or other non-therapeutic supervision?+

No. Your focus is always the students on your caseload.

Do I need professional liability coverage?+

Yes. You are required to carry it. Your own professional association is the right place to start.

Can I accrue LPC supervision hours in this role?+

You can begin accruing once you are cleared, credentialed, and working on a campus. SBHSN does not provide supervision. Most Transitional Coaches℠ locate their own board-approved supervisor, though we can sometimes point you toward providers in the network.

Can I visit the school before my start date?+

Yes. Coordinate directly with the principal.

How soon will I know whether I've been selected?+

The principal's decision usually comes shortly after your interview. You're generally notified within a few days.

How quickly will I receive my agreement?+

Within 24 hours of the school's decision.

What does the program calendar look like?+

The program runs the 180-day academic year. Summer options vary by site: some coaches provide services at a summer school location, some offer telehealth, and some take the summer off and return for the new academic year.

After You're Selected

What happens immediately after I sign?+

You'll receive an email directing you to begin background screening with the school district and to complete your self-paced training.

Who handles my onboarding and background check?+

The school district, not SBHSN. Once the principal gives the green light, you'll be directed through the district's clearance process.

How long does district clearance take?+

Typically 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the speed of fingerprints, district checks, and paperwork.

Can I push back my start date?+

Yes, with approval from both the school principal and the SBHSN Grant Director. The approval must be documented in writing.

What is the grant readiness profile, and can it be adjusted for my school?+

It's the standing document setting out what the school is responsible for providing. It's standardized for compliance, but principals may request adjustments — academic grade requirements, for example. SBHSN works with schools to balance compliance with local needs.

On Campus

Who do I contact if I need a day off?+

You don't report your schedule to SBHSN. Coordinate directly with the school principal. If you're absent without communicating it, the school may request a replacement coach.

How do groups work?+

Run at least two groups per day, with 7 to 14 students per group. Each session is 30 minutes.

Will my caseload change during the year?+

Yes. Caseloads shift as student needs change. New entries usually wait for the next cycle, though urgent exceptions are made. You should be adding new students every month — once you're established on campus, continual enrollment is expected, because student needs are ongoing.

Who coordinates group scheduling with the school?+

The grant readiness profile identifies a point of contact responsible for working with you to build schedules around student availability and course load.

Can I use two access centers?+

Usually only one is available on campus. If two work better for your population, you may implement that approach.

What happens if a student returns to services after being discharged?+

Complete a new biopsychosocial assessment and treatment plan to restart services.

What if the school isn't meeting its responsibilities?+

Tell us. Email grants@sbhsnetwork.com or text us, and the grants department will coordinate with the school directly.

Questions this page doesn't answer: grants@sbhsnetwork.com

Not placing in your state yet? Join our waitlist.