New Resource Provides Expert Guidance on Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems

Over the past 15 years, NASDSE has played a significant role in advancing the well-being of students with disabilities through the IDEA Partnership‘s facilitation and sponsorship of the National Community of Practice on School Behavioral Health. The Community affiliated 16 states, 22 national organizations and nine technical assistance centers to facilitate a “shared agenda” across education, mental health and families. Based on that history and reputation, NASDSE was invited to be a core partner in the development of this document.

As NASDSE Executive Director, I offered this quote for the communication plan in the launch of the document.

“We’re excited to be part of this national effort to advance and champion comprehensive school mental health systems because healthy social and emotional development provides the necessary foundation for children to learn, grow and thrive, both in school and in life. Understanding the link between disability and mental health is important for special education directors who are in a position to support mental health programs in schools.”

I have also asked the core team to develop a webinar to convey the content of the document with a focus on the role that state directors play in the work going forward.

· Offering comprehensive mental health services and resources in a place that’s already central to the lives of children and families: schools

· Taking a public health approach to school mental health by focusing on prevention and early identification of mental health and substance abuse concerns, not just treatment of them

The insights offered in “Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance From the Field” are designed to promote positive school climate and safety, strengthen social and emotional learning, and foster mental health and general well-being, while reducing the prevalence and severity of mental illness.

The document also conveys the urgent need to act now to ensure that integrating comprehensive, high-quality school mental health systems into all U.S. schools becomes standard practice.

Written for state leaders, policy makers, school administrators, teachers, youth, families, child and family advocates, funders and businesses seeking to make a positive difference for students, the resource addresses:

• The value and impact of effective school mental health

• The current state of the school mental health field

• Core features of comprehensive school mental health systems

• Recommended strategies for improving quality, scaling up and fostering the widescale adoption of comprehensive school mental health systems

• Insights on tailoring systems to the needs/resources of a school, district or community

• State and local spotlights representing significant progress on school mental health

“Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance From the Field” is available at www.schoolmentalhealth.org/AdvancingCSMHS

Key insights from the document also will be shared and discussed at the 2019 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental, November 7-9 in Austin, Texas.