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APSB committee endorses school mental health plan

Avoyelles Journal, Marksville Weekly News, Bunkie Record (LA) - 7/9/2016

Details still need to be worked out, but a proposed mental/behavioral health program for Avoyelles public schools "is a great start," Board President Darrell Wiley said.

The five mental/behavioral health providers in the parish worked together to develop a program that puts at least one mental health practitioner in each of the four "zones" established by the board earlier this year. Their proposal was endorsed by the board's Health Services Committee on June 28.

The four zones include one provider for Lafargue Elementary, Marksville High and Marksville Elementary; one for Bunkie High and Bunkie Elementary; one for LaSAS and Cottonport Elementary; and one for Plaucheville and Riverside elementaries.

Avoyelles High was not included in the program because it has a school-based clinic on campus with a full-time mental health professional.

That program, operated by Christus-Cabrini, has been in place for 15 years, first at Mansura Middle and then at Avoyelles when the middle schools were closed and AHS absorbed the Mansura students.

The program is designed to provide a "supportive, therapeutic relationship between Avoyelles Parish mental/behavioral health providers, children and family/caregivers that addresses and/or implements specific interventions outlined in the child-centered plant that is developed for each individual," the written plan states.

Under the proposal, the School Board will allow access to the schools and provide an area that protects the confidentiality of any student seeking treatment or help.

The five providers will develop a schedule that rotates them through the four zones, so no one company or mental health professional is assigned to a particular school or zone.

Personnel from a non-scheduled provider will not be allowed on the school campus unless there is a specific reason for the unscheduled visit.

The school or School Board can refer a student for behavioral/mental health services, but must obtain permission from the child's parent or guardian.

If another provider's client is referred to the scheduled provider, "the agency on campus must notify the existing agency and allow the existing agency to come on campus and work with said client," the proposal states.

The mental health proposal will be presented to the full School Board and revisions will be made if necessary.

The committee will also be considering ways to meet students' medical health and dental health needs.