Page 61 - Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report FY19 & FY20

STUDENTS
Physical Education
& Physical Activity Environment &
Social & Emotional Climate EMPLOYEES Engagement COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social Services Social & Emotional & FAMILIES
Nutrition
Community
Involvement
Services
Psychological
Family
HEALTHY SAFE
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
Physical
Environment
Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate
Wellness Education
Health
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COMMUNITY
Youth Mental Health First Aid
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act reads, in
part, “The Department of Education shall select a national authority on
youth mental health awareness and assistance to facilitate providing
youth mental health awareness and assistance training, using a trainer
certification model, to all school personnel in elementary, middle, and
high schools.” [SB 7026, 1012.584 (2)] Florida has selected Youth Mental
Health First Aid, published by the National Council of Behavioral Health,
to meet this requirement, which will be a multi-year endeavor.
Youth Mental Health First Aid® is the help offered by an adult to a young
person (ages 5-18) experiencing a mental health challenge, mental
disorder or a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate
help is received or until the crisis resolves.

All school staff are required to complete the Youth Mental Health First
Aid training which is now offered online. The training includes a 2-hour
self-paced class and a 5.5-hour instructor-led class (7.5 hours total).
School employees register for the class in eLearning.

Staff in FY20 who completed the training was certified at Mental Health First Aiders for a three-year period.
Recertification for another three years is earned by completing a one-hour online recertification class.
Participants needing to recertify will be contacted by the Department of Behavioral and Mental Health and
given directions and a code for a future class.

School Psychological Services

School Psychological Services in The School District of Palm Beach County currently consists of a team of 130
school psychologists who provide a range of culturally responsive, comprehensive and integrated services
for children, families, and schools in order to help students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and
emotionally.

To help ensure the delivery of evidence-based practices aligned with core school psychologist training
competencies, School Psychological Services supports the National Association of School Psychologists’
(NASP) Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services, also known as the NASP
Practice Model. Delivery of school psychological services aligned with the NASP Practice Model, whenever
possible, helps to facilitate the department’s goal of enhancing professional practices to best support students,
families, and schools.

60 FY19 and FY20 Wellness Promotion Policy (WPP) Annual Report BACK to Menu 61