This rule covers the requirement of creating a threat assessment and a safe and supportive school team to handle mental health issues. This multidisciplinary team should have members with expertise in counseling, behavior management, mental health and substance use, classroom instruction, special education, school administration, school safety and security, emergency management, and law enforcement. The team provides a systemic and coordinated multi-tiered support system that addresses school climate, the social and emotional domain, and behavioral and mental health. The team is also responsible for providing or ensuring training is provided for teachers, staff, and other stakeholders in regards to grief and trauma-informed care practices as well as suicide prevention. 

Reference: Threat Assessment and Safe and Supportive School Program and Team, Tex. Educ. Code § 37.115 (b)

Link:https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.37.htm#37.115

With recent legislation, the state has mandated that schools establish a team to aid students in need of mental health services and help develop school staff skills in trauma-informed and grief informed care and suicide prevention.  Also mandated by the state, each school’s team must train their staff on positive behavior intervention and becoming trauma-sensitive schools. The legislation laid out guidelines for the teams as well as the region service centers to create a list of approved training that meets the requirements of the state and the needs of the students. It will be interesting to see what programs and training are most effective. 

Reference: Mental Health Promotion and Intervention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention, and Suicide Prevention, Tex. Educ. Code § 38.351

This law that using the list created by the Health and Human Services Commission and regional education service centers, each school district must implement a program that it includes early mental health prevention and interventions, building skills related to managing emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and responsible decision-making, substance abuse prevention and interventions,  suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, grief-informed and trauma-informed practices, positive school climates, positive behavior interventions and supports, positive youth development and safe, supportive, and positive school climate. This law also says each school district shall provide training for teachers, school counselors, principals, and all other appropriate personnel. 

This law outlines the requirements that all school staff must complete annually as staff development. It says that all staff should be trained in suicide prevention as well as recognizing the signs of mental health issues and substance abuse. The law also outlines that the staff must be trained in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with students and conflict management. Staff must also be knowledgeable of how grief and trauma affect student learning and the uses of grief and trauma-informed practices. The final requirement of this law is that staff must also be trained in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying. 

Reference: Staff Development Requirements, Tex. Educ. Code § 21.451

Guidance from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-Joint Informational Bulletin

This bulletin provides the states, schools, and school systems, with information about addressing mental health and substance use issues in schools. This includes examples of approaches for mental health and related treatment services in schools. Additionally, it provides guidance on best practice models and ways to facilitate the implementation of services. 

Reference: McCance-Katz, E &  Lynch, C. (2019, July 01). Joint Informational Bulletin. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 

Link: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/pep19-school-guide.pdf

Reference: American School Counselor American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf