The Florida legislature has continued to provide funding for schools through the Mental Health Assistance Allocation to address the critical need for prevention, early intervention, and direct intervention for student mental health. The designated funding through SB 7030 is to be used exclusively for the development of a safe and healthy environment for students to learn, and strengthen programs designed to address mental health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and treatment and recovery services. As was the case last year, part of the statute language requires that the School Board approve a plan of services; using the FDOE provided matrix for development, that plan is submitted here for consideration.

For the past five years the Mental Health Assistance Allocation has enabled CCDS to expand direct services to students through increased staffing and programming, as well as complete a needs assessment to better inform level of student's social-emotional competencies.

Each year, Clay County has successfully grown our capacity to serve our students and their families through initiatives that are funded by this allocation.  This is evident in the number of staff we have been able to hire, and in the multiple increases in overall numbers of students who have received services.

We expect to see a reduction in behavioral and emotional issues detracting our students from academic success, as well as an increase in life skills building and overall resiliency in our students. We will also be able to continue to identify specific indicators that impact discipline referrals, suspension events, average daily attendance, social-emotional competency perceptions, and academic achievement.

Goal 4: Strengthen the overall physical and emotional environment to foster an environment of safety and belonging for students, staff, and all stakeholders.

Recommend School Board approval of plan.