The webinar will explain the new state policies and help families, educators, and community members get to work on effectively putting the policies into practice in their schools.
What do the new laws cover?
The new state laws — and the boost in school funding that passed the Legislature — give schools an opportunity to take action on multiple fronts, including:
- helping ALL students build up skills for managing anger, anxiety, and conflict;
- training teachers, school police officers, and other staff to understand how trauma affects learning and behavior and how to respond effectively;
- when necessary, offering parents a chance to connect their child with a therapist; and
- addressing youth substance abuse.
Why is it important to address student mental health and school climate?
By effectively addressing student mental health, school districts can ensure more students are able to focus on learning math, reading, writing, science, and other subjects. Districts can improve student behavior and cut down on ineffective discipline practices like suspensions, particularly in early grades. And districts can help students stay healthy and safe, reducing the disturbing rate of high school student suicide attempts in Texas.
Who is speaking on the webinar?
The following speakers will make presentations during Tuesday's webinar:
- Shannon Hoffman, MSW, LCDC, Policy Fellow, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
- Josette Saxton, MSSW, Mental Health Policy Director, Texans Care for Children
- Adrian Gaspar, MPAff, Mental Health Policy Fellow, Disability Rights Texas
- Alissa Sughrue, MSSW, Policy Coordinator, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas
- Tiffany Williams, LMSW, Developmental Disabilities Policy Fellow, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
I hope you're able to join us on Tuesday and help us ensure that school districts and communities make the most of this opportunity to support Texas kids!
Sincerely,
Josette Saxton
Director of Mental Health Policy
