Statement of Purpose

Kiamichi Technology Centers supports student health and wellness protocols to include mental health support. It is the protocol of Kiamichi Technology Centers to align access to mental health support by providing community resources for students and guardians focused on mental health treatment options and crisis response intervention. Kiamichi Technology Centers will provide mental health and crisis response training to school personnel.

Definitions

• Mental Health Crisis

  • Any situation in which a person’s behavior or verbalized distress puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others and/or prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively in the community. The 988 Mental Health Lifeline operates 24/7, offering anyone who dials 9-8-8 access to mental health crisis services.

•  Crisis Response

  • Refers to the advance planning and actions taken to address natural and manmade disasters, crises, critical incidents, and tragic events. Of course, in an emergency, it is always best to call 911.

•  Crisis Intervention

  • Can mitigate adverse reactions, facilitate coping and planning, assist in identifying and accessing available support, normalize reactions to a crisis, and assess capacities and need for further support or referral to the next level of care. The three main goals of crisis intervention are to stabilize, reduce symptoms, and return to adaptive function.

• Privacy Requirements

  • All district site protocols must comply with the requirements of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.

Privacy Requirements

• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

  • (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the students when they reach the age of 18 or attend a school beyond the high school level.

• HIPAA

  • The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other individually identifiable health information (collectively defined as “protected health information”) and applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically. The rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without an individual’s authorization. The rule also gives individuals rights over their protected health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, to direct a covered entity to transmit an electronic copy of their protected health information in an electronic health record to a third party, and to request corrections. The Privacy Rule is located at 45 CFR Part 160 and Subparts A and E of Part 164.
    
    

Recognize Warnings Signs

Signs of a mental health crisis episode may not always be apparent in a student/child. Keeping the following warning signs in mind, teachers, directors, and other staff members can begin to identify the need for intervention.

• Abuse Behavior

  • Often a student in mental distress will show abusive behavior to themselves and others. This may include self-harm, substance abuse, physical abuse, etc.

•  Inability to Perform Daily Tasks

  • This can include even the simplest tasks such as bathing, brushing teeth and/or hair, and putting on clean clothes.

•  Major Life Crises of Students

  • All, but not limited to, the list below:

  • Death of a family member.

  • The divorce or separation of parents.

  • The adolescent’s own pregnancy or illness.

  • A change in residence.

  • Breaking up with one’s boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other.

  • Loss of family social or financial status.

  • Rejection by peers.

  • Failure to achieve.

• Increased Agitation

  • Students showing signs of increased agitation may use verbal threats, be violently out of control, destroy property, and more.

• Isolation

  • Students and young adults in mental health crisis tend to isolate themselves from family and friends at school and at work.

• Loses Touch with Reality (Psychosis)

  • Psychosis encompasses the following behaviors: showing signs of confusion, having strange ideas, thinking they are someone they are not, not understanding what people are saying, hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there.

• Paranoia

  • Paranoia manifests in suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification.

• Rapid Mood Swings

  • Increased energy levels, the inability to stay still, pacing, sudden depression and withdrawal, and becoming suddenly happy or calm after a period of depression may be indicative of a student in crisis.

• Other Warning Signs May Include:

  • Changes in school performance.

  • Pulling away from people and things.

  • Having low or no energy.

  • Having unexplained aches and pains, such as constant stomach aches or headaches.

  • Feeling helpless or hopeless.

  • Excessive smoking, drinking, or drug use, including prescription medications.

  • Eating or sleeping too much or too little.

  • Worrying a lot of the time- feeling guilty but not sure why.

  • Having difficulty readjusting to home or work life.

  • Thinking about suicide.

  • Inability to perceive changes in their own feelings, behavior, or personality (lack of insight or anosognosia).

Safeguard Student Health and Safety

It is important to establish a culture of support and safety to enhance student health and prevent barriers to effective crisis response by fostering healthy relationships built on a foundation of trust, respect, and care in schools. These safeguards help to positively affect student-teacher relationships, increase engagement for students and families, and improve two-way communication between all parties. A culture of safety and support works to replace fear, uncertainty, and punishment as motivators with belonging, connectedness, and willingness to change.

Every school employee with reason to believe any student under the age of 18 years is a victim of abuse or neglect is required by law to report the matter immediately to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) and local law enforcement. (70 O.S. § 1210.163; 10A O.S. § 1-2-101). The OKDHS Hotline number is 1-800-522-3511, and the online reporting link is www.OKHotline.org.

Response Procedures

 Mental Health Crisis

• Assess the situation.

  • Is the person in danger of hurting themselves, others, or property?

  • Do you need emergency assistance?

    • Call 988 to engage with trained crisis counselors for help with suicidal, substance use, and/or a mental health crisis.

    • Immediately call 911 for emergency assistance if the student requires medical attention.

• Talk to the student in a safe space. All staff members’ responses should be calm, supportive, and non-judgmental.

  • Keep voice calm.

  • Listen to the student.

  • Ask questions, but do not push.

  • Express support and concern.

  • Ask how you can help.

  • Gently announce actions before initiating them.

• Walk with the student to the School Counselor, Director, or Assistant Director Office.

  • NOTE Student should always have adult supervision.

• Students will be referred per district safety protocol.

• Immediately following the incident, appropriate staff member/s should document steps taken.

  • Referral Form.

  • Parent/Guardian Notification Form (if applicable).

  • Student Re-entry Plan.

• If a student is out for an extended time (more than two school days), a caregiver/student/counselor meeting should be held a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the student’s return to school.

Remember: A person experiencing a mental health crisis may not always clearly communicate their thoughts, feelings, needs, or emotions. They may also find it difficult to understand what others are saying. It is important to empathize and connect with the person’s feelings, stay calm, and try to de-escalate the crisis. Seek outside assistance from your local Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for additional support.

Return to Learn

Emphasize to partner school counselors that it is imperative to inform the technology center about students who have been in crisis.  When a student is out of immediate crisis and ready to return to school, the technology center counselor will meet with the student and parent or guardian to discuss re-entry to the school day after an extended physical health absence, behavioral health assessment, or extended hospitalization.

1.  The school counselor will request a meeting with the student and parent or guardian.

2. This group will discuss and document the following:  a re-entry procedure and what would help to ease the transition back into the school environment; a clear plan for addressing long-term absence and missed work which allows for adjustments in classwork/homework upon return; and, any concerns the student or parents/guardians may have.  The group will also identify a point-person to support the student and develop a crisis plan.

3. All accommodations will be documented.

4. The school counselor will periodically check in with the student to help with readjustment to the school community and address any ongoing social or academic concerns.

5. The school counselor will periodically check in with the parent or guardian to update progress or express concerns.

6. The counselor will meet with the student’s instructors/teacher’s assistants to share information about curriculum and social concerns prior to the student’s return.

7. The school counselor will be available to instructors to discuss any concerns they may have regarding the student after re-entry.

Guardian Notification

Guardians will be notified by school personnel to streamline and assist with mental health crisis response efforts. The following steps may be helpful:

1.  The parents/guardians on file should be contacted by a designated school professional (Campus Administrator, School Counselor, or other school personnel).

2. Arrange for parents/guardians to come to the school.

3. Meet with parents/guardians directly and review the Emergency Student Crisis Notification.

4. Provide parents/guardians with a copy of the form and all collateral referrals and/or contact resources.

5. Discuss with parents/guardians the school re-entry process upon release from a medical professional and the importance of Consent for Release of Confidential Information.

6. Notify partner high school counselors/administrators in the event of a mental health crisis response.

 Schools shall notify parents and guardians in accordance with 70 O.S. § 24-100.7 and 70 O.S. § 24-1.

Resources

To provide consistent continuity of services with partner schools, Kiamichi Technology Centers utilizes reporting documents and templates provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  These documents include but are not limited to: Emergency Student Crisis Notification, Threat Assessment, School Re-entry, Consent for Release of Confidential Information, etc. 

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

  • The 988 Mental Health Lifeline is a three-digit number for the national Mental Health Lifeline. The 988 Mental Health Lifeline operates 24/7 and offers services for mental health crisis calls. Operators are licensed and certified health crisis specialists who answer calls, connect to, and dispatch local services and mobile crisis teams.

• Mobile Crisis Response

  • The Youth Mobile Response and Stabilization System is a mobile intervention service for children, youth, and young adults experiencing behavioral health emergencies. (833) 885-2273.

• SDE Crisis Preparedness and Response

  • The Crisis Team provides Oklahoma local educational agencies (LEAs) with tools, training/ professional development, consultation, or direct response support at no cost to districts. Services include support for increasing school safety, best practice recommendations for crisis management, and assistance in identifying students who may require mental health supports. The Crisis Team supports Oklahoma school districts in crisis prevention, preparedness, intervention, and response. The team responds to both hazard-based and threat-based school crises with a specific focus on balancing physical and psychological safety for school communities. (405) 397-7108

Training

In accordance with Student Mental Health Protocol 70 O.S. § 24-159, Kiamichi Technology Centers is committed to providing school administrators, teachers, support employees, and school-based mental health providers ready access to and regular training on the mental health protocol.

In accordance with the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Act, 70 O.S. § 24-100.7, Kiamichi Technology Centers Board of Education shall provide district-wide training to all staff on a biennial basis addressing suicide awareness and prevention. As a core element, this training requirement should include evidence-based approaches. The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall make available, at no cost to the districts, curriculum for staff that addresses suicide awareness and prevention. The training program may be combined with any other training addressing bullying prevention provided by the school district.

In accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, 70 O.S. § 6-194.3, Kiamichi Technology Centers Board of Education shall require a training program for certified employees and staff which shall emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of students once every school year.

Oklahoma Student Mental Health Legislation