The school system is an important part of the mental healthcare system.
The school system can be the main point of entry into the mental healthcare system for parents. It can be the first place that someone may notice signs and symptoms of a mental health issue in a child. It can be the place where a child receives an evaluation. It can also be a parent’s source for information and referral to resources and treatment outside the school setting.
The main role of a school system is to provide your child with an education. Sometimes mental health issues can affect a child’s behavior, ability to learn, and interactions with peers and adults in school. If your child has a mental health issue that is affecting their learning, then the school system aims to understand your child’s needs and works to ensure that the school environment supports your child’s learning.
School professionals may be involved in many of the steps in helping a child with a mental health issue:
Don’t forget about the teacher! Remember to include your child’s teacher when getting help for your child. Your child’s teacher has the most direct interaction with your child of any school professional and can offer valuable insight into your child’s behaviors. Your child’s teacher can also connect you with other school professionals who may be able to help.
School professionals include administrators, general education teachers, special education teachers, teachers’ assistants, and school nurse teachers. Mental health specialists who work specifically for the school system include school psychologists, school counselors, or school social workers. These school mental health specialists offer various levels of support and treatment. Sometimes they will meet with a child or parent to discuss and work out emotional or behavioral issues. If they suspect that a child has a mental health issue, they generally refer them to a mental health specialist outside the school. They may follow up with the child in school to monitor and support their ongoing mental health as it relates to their school success.
School social workers are mental health specialists with a master’s degree in social work. They are clinically trained, meaning they have spent a good part of their education and training working with clients. They hold a license from the Rhode Island Department of Health as either a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). They also hold a certification from the Rhode Island Department of Education. School social workers conduct evaluations and facilitate services for all students, their families, and school staff, related to a student’s social, emotional, and mental health needs. School social workers are the direct link among home, school, and community services.
School psychologists are educators who have post-Masters degree training in psychology, learning theory, and education. They hold a certification from the Rhode Island Department of Education and may also be certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board. School psychologists participate in the evaluation of student’s eligibility for special education services, including evaluating academic skills and learning. They also evaluate learning environments, design and evaluate programs for academic and behavior management, and use evidence- based research to develop and recommend effective interventions.
School counselors (formerly guidance counselors) are educators who have a Master’s degree (or the substantial equivalent) in school counseling. They hold a certification from the Rhode Island Department of Education. They possess the qualifications and skills to address academic, career development, and personal needs of students. School counselors offer academic guidance and support services, including:
School counselors work collaboratively with other school staff to help all students be successful academically, vocationally, and personally.
Learn about mental health specialists outside the school system
School mental health specialists use methods similar to other mental health specialists to better understand your child’s abilities and needs, to determine possible mental health issues, and to make referrals as necessary. In schools, evaluations are used specifically to determine if a child has a disability and is in need of special education services. Schools may have their own staff conduct evaluations or, in other cases, schools may have outside consultants conduct evaluations.
The following is a list of evaluations that may be performed and the type of professional responsible for performing the evaluation:
A Functional Behavioral Assessment is a problem-solving process for promoting positive behavior. The process looks beyond the behavior itself and tries to find specific social, emotional, environmental, or cognitive factors that contribute to the behavior. A plan is developed to address the specific problem behaviors and develop more positive, productive behaviors.
Think about getting an independent evaluation outside the school. These are usually more in-depth and may offer more insight into your child’s health. This independent evaluation can also provide supporting documentation if a parent disagrees with the school’s evaluation results or services. Check with your health insurance company first, however. Each plan has their own criteria for what costs the plan will cover for evaluations outside the school. Also, let the school know that you are having your child independently evaluated. Schools need to take the results into account, but do not necessarily have to follow the evaluation’s recommendations.
The school system uses a variety of techniques to promote mental health in the classroom, as well as respond to the needs of a child with a mental health issue.
To ensure good continuity in care, ask the school to identify one school professional who will serve as the contact person for your child’s mental healthcare providers outside the school.
PBIS is a model for creating effective school-wide practices that provide students with positive supports. These supports encourage positive relationships, social development, and productive behavior. Learn more at www.pbis.org.
RTI is the practice of providing research-based interventions to children who are having difficulty learning in regular classrooms. Children are closely observed and their responses are charted to see if those interventions help the child meet learning expectations. When an intervention does not work, the intervention is adjusted or changed. The child’s progress is then again carefully observed and charted. In cases where a child does not make progress, an evaluation may be used to see if the child has a learning disorder. The information gathered during the RTI process offers a new approach to evaluating learning disorders. Rather than considering a child’s test scores, the evaluation team carefully considers the RTI information and what this information shows about the child’s learning abilities and needs. Learn more at www.interventioncentral.com.
The school system is responsible for providing special education for children, ages 3 to 21, with disabilities who require special services under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Special education services are education services designed to meet the child’s unique learning needs in the least restrictive environment. A child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) describes special education and related services necessary for the child to access and make progress in the general education curriculum. The amount and type of special education services a child receives depends upon the unique needs of the child and is an IEP team decision. There are a variety of different levels of special education services. Learn more at www.ride.ri.gov.
Put any requests for school evaluations or meetings in writing. If you choose to hand deliver the written request to the school, make sure the person who receives the request signs it with their name, title, and the date. Have them make you a copy of the request with that information on it. You can also send a written request in the mail. At the post office, ask for Certified Signature Request service. You will get notified when the school gets the letter. Either way, you will have a record that a request was made.
The school system can work with your child’s pediatrician, your child’s mental health specialists, and your family to address your child’s educational needs. School psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors may follow up with a child’s mental health specialists to ensure that the child receives the right care and support at school. School nurses work with mental healthcare providers outside the school to follow through with a child’s medication plan within the school environment.
Behavioral problems may be a sign of an underlying mental health issue. If your child is constantly getting in trouble at school (for example, repeated detentions or suspensions), talk to your child’s pediatrician and get a referral for a mental health specialist.
Although school professionals continue to strive to better understand mental health issues, some may not have a high level of knowledge about mental health issues. Schools sometimes lack the resources to fully accommodate children with mental health issues who have special needs. Teachers and administrators also may interpret signs and symptoms of mental health issues as behavioral problems.
Families may contact school mental health specialists for assistance in advocating for the needs of their child within the school. School mental health specialists work with the family to identify additional resources both within the school and in the community so that a child’s emotional, social, and academic needs are met.
For more information, contact your child’s school.
Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)
Phone: 401-222-8999 (call Center)
Website: https://ride.ri.gov/
Parents and professionals can call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and get answers to questions about special education services.
Advocacy organizations, such as RIPIN (https://ripin.org) and PSN (https://psnri.org) , can also walk you through school system services and how to access them.
