Suicide Prevention & School Response

Linda C. Wolfe, RNDirector, School Support

Services

September 2012

Role of DOE

• Districts operate independently. They each have their own Crisis Plans and support systems.

• When DOE is notified of a suicide, someone from leadership reaches out to the Superintendent and offers our assistance. – Provide PIO support– Provide counseling support– Connect them with PBHS, DSCYF

• Regulations related to mental health

Schools

Sch

ool

Su

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sStaff• School Counselors• School Nurse• School Administration• Wellness Center staff (29

district high schools)• Advisory

Programming• Health Education• After-school activities• Socialization• Title IV, Part A – Safe and

Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program– Previous funding development

of a plan for safe & healthy schools

Professional Development

• Ongoing training/conferences to counselors and school nurses on detection/prevention

Collaboration • Summer Institute• DPBHS Conference• Teen Screen

(depression) • Delaware Mental

Health Association

Crisis PlansData Collection• YRBS

– School Climate Survey

Healthy School Environment

621 District and School Emergency Preparedness Policy1.0 Definitions

“Emergency Preparedness Guidelines" means the Department of Education developed documents that outline the steps, processes, procedures, audits and actions a school, local school district or charter school shall use to develop a plan to respond to an emergency event or crisis situation, including a major communicable disease event such as a Pandemic Influenza Outbreak that may occur in the school community. These documents may be revised from time to time. The documents shall be available on the Department of Education website.

2.0 District and Charter School Written Policy Required

2.1 Each school district and charter school shall have a written policy that outlines an emergency preparedness plan that is consistent with the Emergency Preparedness Guidelines. In addition, the district policy shall state how the emergency preparedness plan shall be implemented at each school within the district. The emergency preparedness plan shall be reviewed with students and staff annually.

Crisis Plans – Guidelines Prevention – Response • Guidelines:

– include “educate” others on emergency preparedness to crisis events & prevention• Many districts include suicide response in their plans

– include “designate a coordinator for mental health crisis”• Many districts designate the school counselor

• New Delaware legislation will integrate school crisis plans with state’s– New Comprehensive School Emergency (Response)

Planning Model• Specifically includes “Death of a Student/Staff”

545 K to 12 School Counseling Programs

1.0 Local School District Written Plan1.1 Every school in each district shall have a written school counseling plan. The plan shall consist of the following components:1.1.1 Include the American School Counselors Association's (ASCA) National Standards for School Counseling Programs in the areas of Academic Development, Career Development and Personal and Social Development;1.1.2 Include vertical K-12 articulation of the American School Counselors Association's National Standards for School Counseling Programs;1.1.3 Contain all elements of the ASCA National Model, as those are described by the American School Counselors Association

School counselors provide services to students, parents, school staff and the community in the following areas:Direct Student ServicesDirect services are in-person interactions between school counselors and students and include the following:

School counseling core curriculum: This curriculum consists of structured lessons designed to help students attain the desired competencies and to provide all students with the knowledge, attitudes and skills appropriate for their developmental level. The school counseling core curriculum is delivered throughout the school’s overall curriculum and is systematically presented by school counselors in collaboration with other professional educators in K-12 classroom and group activities.

Individual student planning: School counselors coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.

Responsive services: Responsive services are activities designed to meet students’ immediate needs and concerns. Responsive services may include counseling in individual or small-group settings or crisis response.

Indirect Student ServicesIndirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors’ interactions with others including referrals for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.

ASCA National Standards for Students

Academic DevelopmentImprove Academic Self-ConceptAcquire Skills for Improved LearningAchieve School SuccessImprove LearningPlan to Achieve GoalsRelate School to Life Experiences Personal/Social Development Acquire Self-Knowledge Acquire Interpersonal Skills Self-Knowledge Application Acquire Personal Safety SkillsCurrently there are: 125 Elementary School Counselors

106 Middle School Counselors131 High School Counselors

Career DevelopmentDevelop Career AwarenessDevelop Employment ReadinessAcquire Career InformationIdentify Career GoalsAcquire Knowledge to Achieve Career GoalsApply Skills to Achieve Career Goals

School Nurses

• “Each . . . (public) school district shall ensure that it has at least 1 school nurse per facility” (Del Code 1310)

• Licensure/Certification– Bachelor degree in Nursing– 3 years clinical experience– CPR/AED certified

• Currently there are:– 272 district and charter school nurses– 64 private school nurses

851 K to 12 Comprehensive Health Education Program

1.0 Program Requirements1.1 Each school district and charter school shall have a sequential, skill-based K to 12 Comprehensive Health Education Program based on the Delaware Health Education Standards that establishes a foundation of understanding the relationship between personal behavior and health and shall include at a minimum the following:

1.1.7 Inclusion of an evidence-based tobacco, alcohol, drug and interpersonal violence prevention program.

Schools