Annual Notification Regarding

School Provided or Sponsored Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services

The school system provides or sponsors the following mental health services:

1. Student support groups - Small groups that are conducted by Homewood City Schools-employed school counselors or student assistance counselors, or by outside agencies. Parents/legal guardians will be contacted and permission will be obtained for their students to participate.

2. Brief individual counseling services - School counselors or student assistance counselors may provide brief, time-limited counseling services when appropriate (e.g. when students are waiting to access outside mental health providers). Parents/legal guardians will be contacted and will need to provide permission for their students to participate.

3. Ongoing counseling services provided by therapists not employed by Homewood City Schools- If a student has an outside therapist, that therapist may provide services to the student at school if the parent has given permission and completed a release of information. Students may also receive mental health counseling services by outside agencies as part of their IEP or Section 504 Plan. Parents/legal guardians will be notified of these services and will provide permission for their students to participate.

4. Crisis Intervention - If a safety concern arises, school counselors or student assistance counselors may meet with students to follow up on an imminent threat to a student’s or others’ safety. When school staff respond to safety concerns, they will notify parents and discuss appropriate next steps.

Please note: A comprehensive school counseling program does not include and is not meant to replace ongoing mental health counseling. Homewood City Schools-employed school counselors and student assistance counselors do not provide long-term therapy. They do not conduct in-depth mental health assessments or make mental health diagnoses.

Review of Materials

You may request to review any materials used in the guidance and counseling programs available to students by contacting the student’s principal.

Information Regarding How to Allow, Limit, or Prevent Your Child’s Participation in Mental Health Services

Under Alabama law, no student under the age of sixteen may participate in ongoing school counseling services including, but not limited to, mental health services, unless (1) the student’s parent or legal guardian has submitted a written opt in granting permission for the student to participate or (2) there is an imminent threat to the health of the student or others.

Therefore, if your child is under sixteen, they will only be allowed to participate in mental health services if you opt in. If you would like the school system to be able to offer and/or provide mental health services to your child, you must opt in for them to participate in those services.

Even if you do not opt in to mental health services, your child may be provided mental health services if there is an imminent threat to their health or others. School employees may determine in their discretion whether such an imminent threat exists and provide any mental health services they deem necessary under the circumstances.

Parent of students with disabilities:  Please note that the opt in process is not applicable to any ongoing school counseling services or “mental health services” contained in a student’s IEP or §504 plan. Consent for those services will be obtained and information regarding your child’s mental health services will be provided through the usual special education process.

OPT IN FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

As of the date of my signature below, my child, ______________________, is under the age of 16 years old:

• Yes
• No

If No, stop here.

If Yes, continue below.

I hereby give my permission for my child to participate in the following mental health services:

[Check the box for each mental health service you want to be available to your child]

• Student support groups - Small groups that are conducted by Homewood City Schools-employed school counselors or student assistance counselors, or by outside agencies. Parents/legal guardians will be contacted and permission will be obtained for their students to participate.

• Brief individual counseling services - School counselors or student assistance counselors may provide brief, time-limited counseling services when appropriate (e.g. when students are waiting to access outside mental health providers). Parents/legal guardians will be contacted and will need to provide permission for their students to participate.

• Ongoing counseling services provided by therapists not employed by Homewood City Schools- If a student has an outside therapist, that therapist may provide services to the student at school if the parent has given permission and completed a release of information. Students may also receive mental health counseling services by outside agencies as part of their IEP or Section 504 Plan. Parents/legal guardians will be notified of these services and will provide permission for their students to participate.

You may rescind permission for a student to participate in mental health services at any time by providing written notice to the school principal.

_______________________________                 ________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name (Signature)                        Parent/Guardian Name (Printed)

_______________________________

Date