Page 54 - Wellness Program 2022

STUDENTS
Physical Education
& Physical Activity
Nutrition Services
Counseling, Psychological & Social Services EMPLOYEES Engagement COORDINATING POLICY, PROCESS, AND PRACTICE Counseling, Social Services Social & Emotional & FAMILIES
Environment &
Community
Involvement
Family
Psychological
HEALTHY SAFE
CHALLENGED SUPPORTED ENGAGED
Physical
Environment
Employee IMPROVING LEARNING AND HEALTH Health Climate
Wellness Education
Health
Services
COMMUNITY

Medical Sciences Academies: Behavioral Health Technician Program

In FY22, Dr. Miguel Benavente, M.D., the Medical Administrator for The School
District of Palm Beach County, in the Department of Choice and Career Options,
created and wrote the secondary Behavioral Health Technician Program for the
State of Florida. The full proposal was submitted to the Florida Department
of Education on November 1, 2021 for review and evaluation. On March
30, 2022, the Florida State Board of Education approved the new Behavioral
Health Technician Program Curriculum giving access to all school districts
and schools across the state to offer the curriculum starting in August 2022.

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) program course is a first-of-its-kind
secondary curriculum created and designed to prepare high school students for
employment immediately after graduation and set them on a path to lifelong careers. Long-term, the BHT
program aims to create a diverse and inclusive workforce pipeline and address the critical behavioral health
professional shortage.

Prior to writing the state curriculum, the District and community partners started the development process for
a new secondary state program in health sciences. The Behavioral Health Focused Pilot Project was a two-year
pilot from 2019-2021 comprised of approximately 350 juniors and seniors from five high schools with high
diversity and inclusion populations to impact all socio-economic sectors of the community while getting direct
feedback from students, parents, teachers, and community organizations. The ultimate goal was to help with
the mental health crisis and with the new state requirements in mental health mandated for secondary students.

54 FY22 Wellness Promotion Policy (WPP) Annual Report BACK to Menu