2410.01 - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The School Board will implement a school-based mental health assistance program that includes training classroom teachers and other school staff in detecting and responding to mental health issues and connecting children, youth, and families who may experience behavioral issues with appropriate services.

Mental health counseling services, case management services, and human and social services may be provided to students at a school site under mutual agreements with community-based public or private agencies. Each service provided shall be on a case-by-case basis with prior written approval of the student's parent or guardian.

Contracts with Mental Health Service Providers

The District may contract for mental health services with a community-based mental health service provider for mental health screening for the identification of mental health concerns. Any such agreement shall provide that students who may be at risk for mental health disorders and are referred to such a provider shall be assessed within fifteen (15) days of referral. Mental health services must be initiated within fifteen (15) days after identification and assessment, and support by community-based mental health service providers for students who are referred for community-based mental health services must be initiated within thirty (30) days after the school or District makes a referral.

Parents of a student receiving services under such a contract shall be provided information about other behavioral health services available through the student's school or local community-based behavioral health services providers. A school may meet this requirement by providing information about and Internet addresses for web-based directories or guides for local behavioral health services.

Individuals living in a household with a student receiving services under such a contract shall be provided information about behavioral health services available through other delivery systems or payors for which such individuals may qualify, if such services appear to be needed or enhancements in those individuals' behavioral health would contribute to the improved well-being of the student.

Contact with Mental Health Professionals During a Student Crisis

During a student crisis situation, before initiating an involuntary examination pursuant to F.S. 456.47, school or law enforcement personnel must make a reasonable attempt to contact a mental health professional, unless the child poses an imminent danger to themselves or others.  Such contact may be in person or using telehealth as defined in F.S. 456.47. The mental health professional may be available to the District either by contract or interagency agreements with the managing entity, one or more local community behavioral health providers, or the local mobile response team, or be a direct or contracted District employee.

Involuntary Examinations of Students

Before a principal contacts a law enforcement officer for possible removal of a student from school for involuntary examination, the principal must verify that the school has used de-escalation strategies and initiated outreach to a mobile response team, unless the principal reasonably believes that any delay in removing the student will increase the likelihood of harm to the student or others.

The Principal shall make a reasonable attempt to notify a parent of a student before the student is removed from school, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity to be taken to a receiving facility for an involuntary examination pursuant to F.S. 394.463.

Reasonable attempt to notify means the exercise of reasonable diligence and care by the Principal to make contact with the student's parent, guardian, or other known emergency contact whom the student's parent or guardian has authorized to receive notification of an involuntary examination. At a minimum, the Principal must take the following actions:

1. Use available methods of communication to contact the student's parent, guardian, or other known emergency contact including, but not limited to, telephone calls, text messages, e-mails, and voicemail messages following the decision to initiate an involuntary examination of the student.
2. Document the method and number of attempts made to contact the student's parent, guardian, or other known emergency contact, and the outcome of each attempt.
   
   The Principal who successfully notifies any other known emergency contact may share only the information necessary to alert such contact that the parent or caregiver must be contacted. All such information must be in compliance with Federal and State law.

The principal may delay notification for no more than twenty-four (24) hours after a student is removed if the principal deems the delay to be in the student's best interest and if (1) a report has been submitted to the central abuse hotline, pursuant to F.S. 39.201, based upon knowledge or suspicion of abuse, abandonment, or neglect; or (2) the principal reasonably believes that such delay is necessary to avoid jeopardizing the health and safety of the student.

The Superintendent is required to annually report to the Florida Department of Education the number of involuntary examinations, as defined in F.S. 394.455, which are initiated at a school, on school transportation, or at a school-sponsored activity.

Plan for Mental Health Assistance

The Superintendent will develop and submit to the Board for approval a detailed plan outlining the components and planned expenditures of the district's mental health assistance program. The plan will be focused on a system of supports to deliver mental health care assessment, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and recovery services to students with one or more mental health or co-occurring substance abuse diagnoses and to students at high risk of such diagnoses. Provision of these services will be coordinated with a student's primary mental health care provider and with other mental health providers. The plan will include the components set forth in F.S. 1006.041(2).

District Mental Health Coordinator

The Board shall identify a mental health coordinator for the District. The mental health coordinator shall serve as the District's primary point of contact regarding the District's coordination, communication, and implementation of student mental health policies, procedures, responsibilities, and reporting. The mental health coordinator is responsible for:

1. coordinating with the Office of Safe Schools, established pursuant to F.S. 1001.212;
2. maintaining records and reports regarding student mental health as it relates to school safety and the mental health assistance allocation under F.S. 1011.62(14);
3. facilitating the implementation of School Board policies relating to the respective duties and responsibilities of the District, the Superintendent, and District Principals;
4. coordinating with the School Safety Specialist on the staffing and training of threat assessment teams and facilitating referrals to mental health services, as appropriate, for students and their families;
5. coordinating with the School Safety Specialist on the training and resources for students and District staff relating to youth mental health awareness and assistance;
6. reviewing annually the Board's policies and District procedures related to student mental health for compliance with Florida law and alignment with current best practices and making recommendations, as needed, for amending such policies and procedures to the Superintendent and the Board.

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