CPI, PBIS Restorative Justice, & SEL Professional Development FY22

Mental Health Services Report

2020-2021

Schools opened this academic year in an unprecedented manner with the COVID-19 pandemic looming over the world. Many changes occurred as a result of COVID-19. There have been increases in illnesses, deaths, domestic abuse, suicides, re-emergence of mental illnesses previously in remission, unemployment, homelessness and social isolation/withdrawal. Many of these changes have required an increase in mental health services. The LRSD Mental Health Department is committed to taking care of the mental health needs of its students and families. A summary of 1st quarter mental health information is listed below.

2nd Quarter:

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc throughout the world. Individuals are continuously mandated to physically distance themselves from friends and family members, wear masks, and wash their hands. Tensions are high, mainly in the United States, as individuals war against the need for a mask, nationwide election results and continued racial unrest. Mental health statistics continue to report high numbers of anxiety and depressive disorders, and suicidal ideation.

SUPPORTS

Mental health services were provided by our nine (9) contracted mental and behavioral health agencies. A total of 1,121 students were served by agencies on-site at school campuses or via telehealth. Two-hundred ninety (290) students were served in agency outpatient clinics. The services provided by these agencies include individual, family, and group therapy; intervention services to include crises, collaterals, and pharmacological management and other services as determined by the client and family needs. Some services were also provided via home visits and telephone contacts.

2nd Quarter:

A total of 1, 337 students were served by agencies on-site at school or via telehealth. Two-hundred thirty-four (234) students were served in agency outpatient clinics.

RESOURCES

Families, students, and school staff were provided with many resources. They included SEL and behavioral/mental health websites that provided tips for interactions between varieties of groups. (teacher/child, family/teacher, teacher/teacher, teacher/administration, etc.) Zoom training by Mental Health Professionals focused on more SEL support, self-care, trauma and survival during a pandemic.

2nd Quarter:

The resources listed in the 1st quarter continue to be available. In addition to those resources, the following Professional Development was provided to teachers in Fall 2020 to assist with behavioral issues in the classroom and strategies for teacher self-care.

● Emotional Dysregulation in the Classroom: Simple Tips on How You Can Help

● Impulse Control Strategies for Students with ADHD

● Self-Care: How to Prioritize Self-Care in Times of Change

SUCCESSES

1. An online mental health referral form was put in place this quarter. The online form was designed for two major reasons: to capture all referrals made, not just those processed by agencies and to ensure that students with needs don’t get lost in the system.

2. Agencies being able to provide effective training was a major success. They have been able to reach more groups of educators than in the past. Training sessions for LRSD Spanish-speaking families were also provided by Mental Health Professionals. This is a definite win.

3. Mental health professionals continue to support their clients and families and many of the families are responding to this support despite the barriers.

4. Stephens and Chicot school-based health clinics continue to stand in the gap for physical and mental health services for their students. Chicot is LRSD's newest grant-funded clinic and they are doing a great job with providing services in the midst of the pandemic. Stephens which has been in operation for several years continues to be consistent in the care provided.

5. Dr. Fields' communication with his departments about school closures due to COVID-19 has been appreciated. It helps with notifying the agencies so they can make plans to meet with families/students in other settings. It also lets service providers understand if they have possibly been exposed.

2nd Quarter:

A new success during this quarter was the LRSD Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative. SEL videos were distributed district wide to begin the process of the entire district focusing on the same behaviors. Introductory SEL videos were completed and shown throughout the district in December.

The mental health online referral form continues to gain momentum. Guidance counselors have been encouraged to continue using the form for all referrals to include students that receive services via the counselor. Mental health professionals continue to provide the necessary support for families despite the COVID-19 barriers. The school-based health clinics at Stephens and Chicot continue to support families with physical and behavioral health needs. Communication concerning school closures continues to be necessary for mental health professionals to provide quality services to students and their families.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

1. Communication between mental and behavioral health agencies and guidance counselors’/school officials continues to be inconsistent and complex.

2. Families continue to report difficulties with technology and internet access.

3. It is desired that 100% of all families are getting the mental health services they need.

4. Low rate of mental health services being accessed has always been an issue/concern.

2nd Quarter:

All areas listed for the 1st quarter continue to be monitored. School counselors have given out about 1000 hot spots to families. Coordinator of Counseling, LeQuieta Grayson, thinks this may increase with Fridays now being virtual.

NEXT STEPS

1. The Mental Health Department has initiated another layer to the monthly process of verifying client numbers by school. It is hopeful that this plan will improve communication between agencies and schools.

2. Families will need to make sure they talk with guidance counselors about getting hotspots to meet their technology needs.

3. Agencies will continue to reach out to families that aren’t responding to the call for service.

4. The online mental health referral form will continue to be used to increase familiarity. The Mental Health Department will reach out to Summer Young to develop a monthly data report.

2nd Quarter:

1. The Mental Health Department will continue to work with school counselors and mental health agencies to improve communication. The counselors appreciate the monthly reports that are sent in by the office monthly. It lets them know the number of students that are receiving services.

2. The online mental health referral form will continue to be used to monitor behavioral issues and concerns. Reports will be available for the 3rd quarter.

3. Agencies will continue to provide support for families.

4. The LRSD SEL program will continue to be monitored for quality and effectiveness.