In this month’s policy and leadership session, we discussed how Families as Allies can ensure we support families whose children have problems at school. We want to focus on what families think is important – not what we decide is important to families.
This summer, we are updating and expanding our written resources and website. Please let us know if you’d like to see any changes or additions. The group emphasized the importance of resources to help youth and families transition back when a child returns to their home school after being suspended, expelled or sent to an alternative school.
We then explored how school-based multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) help all children to be able to learn in a positive and supportive environment. We reviewed how school staff supports children on each level and how school-based mental health providers can help. We looked through two documents that discuss MTSS in more depth:
- Guidance to States and School Systems on Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in Schools – a 2019 (first Trump administration) Joint informational Bulletin from Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and Calder Lynch, Acting Deputy Administrator and Director Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
- Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health Needs (MTSS information on page 25)
At the end of the session, we briefly reviewed risk assessments, which should be a joint effort among schools, mental health providers and families. They should also be coordinated with students’ IEPs and 504 Plans.
Please take a few minutes to watch the recording of our discussion.
