Common use of STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS Clause in Contracts

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS. The District and the Federation agree that supporting student mental health in St. Xxxx is a critical step to addressing the predictability of disparities by race, socioeconomic status, and disability, and will accelerate learning and achievement for all students. Student mental health needs are best served when the school community is supported by a team of trained professionals and support staff including Licensed School Social Workers, Licensed School Counselors, Licensed School Psychologists, Licensed School Nurses, and Intervention Specialists or equivalent educational support professional staff. To that end, the parties have agreed to the following: Each St. Xxxx Public School serving students in K-12 shall have a Mental Health Support Team composed of licensed staff and Intervention Specialist or equivalent positions in this bargaining unit. Intervention Specialists are educational support professionals who have the most regular direct contact with students. They provide behavioral support for students beyond Tier 1 in a Multi-Tiered System of Support and support re-entry into the classroom by assisting students in assessing their behavior. Both parties agree that Multi-Tiered Systems of Support are proven to be most effective in supporting students. Appendix C outlines how Intervention Specialists or equivalent positions contribute to a Multi-Tiered System of Support. To achieve fidelity in utilizing MTSS and trauma informed practices to create effective mental health support structures in all SPPS schools, the parties agree to the staffing levels as described in the following subdivisions of this article. In order to properly staff Mental Health Support Teams, additional staff will be hired to create Mental Health Support Teams at each school. Current support in buildings will not be removed or shifted. The parties agree to meet and review the placement of staff, additional staffing will be prioritized for buildings with fewer or no current supports. In the 2020-2021 School Year the School District will commit $4.7 million to hiring additional staff in the following positions: ● Intervention Specialists, each building will have an intervention specialist ● General Education Social Workers ● Licensed School Nurses ● School Psychologists

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS. The District and the Federation agree that supporting student mental health in St. Xxxx is a critical step to addressing the predictability of disparities by race, socioeconomic status, and disability, and will accelerate learning and achievement for all students. Student mental health needs are best served when the school community is supported by a team of trained professionals and support staff including Licensed School Social Workers, Licensed School Counselors, Licensed School Psychologists, Licensed School Nurses, Health Assistants and Intervention Specialists or equivalent educational support professional staff. To that end, the parties have agreed to the following: The parties agree that the following Mental Health Support Teams will be implemented in the 2020-2021, school year: The parties will meet annually to review the implementation status and district hires for that school year and make recommendations for future contracts. Each St. Xxxx Public School serving students in K-12 shall have a Mental Health Support Team composed of licensed staff and Intervention Specialist or equivalent positions in this bargaining unit. Intervention Specialists are educational support professionals who have the most regular direct contact with students. They provide behavioral support for students beyond Tier 1 in a Multi-Tiered System of Support and support re-entry into the classroom by assisting students in assessing their behavior. Both parties agree that Multi-Tiered Systems of Support are proven to be most effective in supporting students. Appendix C outlines how Intervention Specialists or equivalent positions contribute to a Multi-Tiered System of Support. To achieve fidelity in utilizing MTSS and trauma informed practices to create effective mental health support structures in all SPPS schools, the parties agree to the staffing levels as described in the following subdivisions of this article. In order to properly staff Mental Health Support Teams, additional staff will be hired to create Mental Health Support Teams at each school. Current support in buildings will not be removed or shifted. The parties agree to meet and review the placement of staff, additional staffing will be prioritized for buildings with fewer or no current supports. In the 2020-2021 School Year the School District will commit $4.7 million to hiring additional staff in the following positions. These individual positions will each play a distinct and important role in providing complementary mental health supports to the school as described below. Licensed School Social Workers: ● Intervention SpecialistsTrained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, each building will behavior concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents and administrators as well as provide individual and group counseling. School Social Workers have special expertise in understanding family and community systems and linking students and their families with community services essential to promote student success. School Social Workers’ training includes specialized preparation in cultural diversity, systems theory and social justice, risk assessment and intervention, consultation and collaboration and clinical intervention strategies to address the social emotional and mental health needs of students. Licensed School Social Workers assigned to Special Education work specifically with students who have an intervention specialist ● General Individualized Education Social Workers ● Program (IEP) to meet their identified needs. Licensed School Nurses ● Counselors: Professionals who are uniquely qualified to address all students’ academic, transition, career and social/emotional development needs by designing, implementing, evaluating and enhancing a comprehensive school counseling program that proactively promotes and enhances student success. The School PsychologistsCounselor will work directly with students and families daily to proactively support mental wellness through classroom lessons for all students, evidence based small group counseling and individual counseling support. In addition, counselors assist in the coordination of post-treatment plans for students and refer students for school or community based mental health support.