Children, Mental Health and Schools | OAS Episode 128

Sending kids back to the classroom is a goal across the country for many reasons. Along with concerns about falling behind academically and parents’ need to have children in school, experts also are concerned about mental and behavioral health needs. Studies indicate children in need of such services are much more likely to receive them at school. Our guests include Craig Wethington with the Minnesota Department of Education. He discusses how his state has used collaborative improvement and innovation networks, or CoIINs, to improve the quality of school mental health services. He also talks about a community survey of students that indicates many kids were struggling with mental health issues even before the pandemic and how the legislature in his state worked to improve mental health programs. Another guest on the show is Rebecca Astorga with the Arizona Department of Education. She discusses programs and resources states can employ to bolster their mental health services and the role that Project AWARE, a federal grant program, has played in expanding the capacity of the state to address mental health issues among young people. We also talk with Noah Cruz, an NCSL policy researcher, who offers some background on the topic.         Resources Arizona Social Emotional Learning  Children’s Behavioral Health, NCSL Enhancing School Capacity to Support Children’s Mental Health, NCSL Improving the School-Linked Mental Health Program, Report to the Minnesota Legislature Mitch Warnock Act/ARS15-120 OAS Episode 128 Transcription Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program