school-based mental health supports
Children today are increasingly exposed to many social forces that negatively affect their role as students. Good mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social–emotional and mental health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, on-task learning, and students’ sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness but also encompasses social, emotional, and behavioral health and the ability to cope with life’s challenges. Left unmet, mental health problems are linked to costly negative outcomes such as academic and behavior problems, dropping out, and delinquency.
School counselors, school psychologists, licensed clinical professional counselors and school social-workers provide the vast majority of school-based services. They are specially trained in school system functioning and learning, as well as how students’ behavior and mental health impacts their ability to be successful in school.
SOURCE: Maine Department of Education
SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS POSITION LIST
CHAPTER 117 RULE: DUTIES OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS