Mental Health Supports and Education

This year, our site piloted a trauma program to support students with dual diagnosis of special education and mental health diagnosis. The team consists of a licensed therapist and two rehabilitation specialists and they work directly with our identified students. Most of the supports are delivered 1:1 because the nature of their mental health diagnosis (ie: depression, anxiety, bi-polar). I have had quite a few students utilize this program and have seen some great progress with their behavior, attendance, and academics in my classroom. The best part of having this on campus is the immediate access to support if there are any emergency situations. They are always willing to consult about students and offer guidance and support in how best to handle the situation. One challenge to this program is when the student gets constantly pulled out of class for therapy or a skills meeting. The consistency of support from the general education teachers vary. Some teachers allow the student to make up the work missed, others penalize the student for missing class. It is an ongoing issue that our Administration is trying to address so we can keep the program running. San Diego Unified School District. (2016). Providing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Project In Leadership and Learning. Retrieved from: https://www.sandi.net/staff/staff-leadership-and-learning/positive-behavioral-interventions-and-supports-project