Page 73 - Superintendent Annual Report 2023-24

Student Support for Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Practices

School-based mental health care is a vital part of
a multi-tiered support system. Mentally healthy
students are more likely to attend school ready
to learn, actively engage in school activities, have
supportive and caring connections with others, use It’s OK to be OK.
appropriate problem-solving skills, and add to a It’s OK to Not be OK.
positive school culture.
It’s OK to ask for Help.
The Behavioral and Mental Health Framework
provides a road map for schools to follow when
creating new, and aligning existing resources.
The framework leverages the unique skillsets of
professionals (e.g., school counselors, school psychologists, school behavioral health professionals, and co-located mental
health professionals) to provide a broad range of services to benefit student well-being. Additional resources are available
to students and families through our 35 service providers with behavioral health agreements. A continuum of services is
available to all.

Expanded student access to school-based mental health support, including:

• Continuation of agency contracts for co-located services.
• Direct technical support to school mental health teams.
• A comprehensive user guide to assist end users in navigating the Caring First website and application for
documentation of mental health referrals.
• Resource sites such as Caring First and the Co-located Mental Health Professional Resource Site contain resources,
strategies, program guides, and developmental videos that can be used to enhance student access to mental health
support.

Expanded student and family access to community-based mental health support through:
• A public-facing Caring First website for District and community resources.
• A collaborative space for agency leaders to meet, ask questions, and share experiences regarding Caring First data
entry and programmatic questions.
• Community agency partners coordinate with school mental health teams to provide tiered support to students and
their families.
• Caring First referral application for up-to-date community agency information to assist with behavioral or mental
health support.

School-Based (Co-located) Mental Health Services
The Co-located Mental Health Professionals (CMHP) are contracted mental health professionals hired by 12 agency
partners and placed in 113 sites. They offer individual counseling to students with parental consent, and the services are
free for families. Students can receive these services on campus during the regular school day, and no diagnosis is required.

Benefits of having mental health services on the school campus include:

• Removing barriers to access and increasing students' contact with mental health professionals.
• Contributing to student well-being and improving the school climate.

School leaders consistently give a 96% positive rating to this initiative, which aims to enhance students' access to mental
health care at school.

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