Recommendations to the DPS BAC on Allocation of Mental Health Mill Levy Funds

Our Turn Denver

January 2021

Our Recommendations

Our Turn’s History on Mental Health

Why the BAC Should Adopt Our Recommendations

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Our Recommendations For the Allocation of the 2020 Mill Levy Override Funds Earmarked for Mental Health

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Recommendations for the allocation of the ~$3 million in the 2020 Mill Levy Override earmarked for mental health

1. If permanent funding for the trauma-informed practices team has not been secured, use necessary Mill funds to ensure the long-term stability of that work in accordance with the 2018 Board of Education Resolution declaring DPS a Trauma-Informed District

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• Use the remaining balance of the ~$3 Million earmarked for mental health supports to establish a pilot program which staffs mental health counselors, whose primary responsibility would be supporting DPS improving mental health outcomes for students

Our Turn’s History on Mental Health

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Support for the 2016 Bond and Mill

• In 2016 Our Turn Action Network endorsed the Bond and Mill and brought on a team of student organizers to persuade voters to pass the measure.
• During the summer of 2016 the team knocked over 37,000 doors and contacted nearly 6,500 voters
• In November, the measure passed, bringing in 16 million for new mental health services

Outcomes of the 2016 Mill

Our Turn Mental Health Campaign

• Despite the huge increases in staff due to the 2016 Bond and Mill, students came together in 2018 and identified mental health as their top concern �
• In August 2018 student testified at the board of education meeting introducing their proposal for increased mental health resources in DPS
• Ensure that all DPS staff attend a trauma informed training at least once a year
• Ensure that all schools have at least one full-time mental health counselor on staff
• Ensure that mental health counselors are reflect the community they work with

Our Work

• Delivered 50+ student testimonies to decision makers on the issue calling for continuous trauma informed training and the staffing of mental health counselors �
• Collected over 800 petition signatures supporting our campaign demands, including hiring mental health counselors �
• Met with 6 of 7 sitting DPS Board members on the issues �
• Conducted over a dozen research meetings with social workers, school principals, DPS central office staff, and board members �
• Endorsed the 2020 Bond and Mill

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Support for the 2020 Bond & Mill

Why the BAC Should Adopt Our Recommendations

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DPS Must Fulfill Its Commitments to Support Mental Health

Mental Health Support Has Always Been Critical, Especially Now

Mental Health is an Equity Issue

In the 2019 Colorado Healthy Kids Survey students of color consistently report worse mental health than their white counterparts. For example, in the 2019 Colorado Healthy Kids survey students from multiple racial background were more than 2x as likely to have attempted suicide in the last 12 months.

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Mental Health is an Equity Issue

Source: 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey

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Sustaining the Trauma-Informed Training Work is Critical

• In 2017 the DPS Board of Education passed a resolution declaring its intention to become a trauma informed district. In it the district recognizes the importance of trauma-informed care in building strong school communities, supporting students mental health, creating inviting education environments and more. �
• They also committed to using the�Healthy Kids Colorado Survey as �a resource for determining future �Support�
• Denver’s Data on the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Makes the Case for continued trauma-informed support
• Over the last 5 years rates of Denver students reporting experiencing symptoms of clinical depression have steadily increased
• In 2019 32% of Denver students reported experiencing symptoms of clinical depression
• In 2019 nearly 15% of Denver students reported seriously considering suicide

Mental Health Counselors Are Necessary to Improve Mental Health Outcomes

• There is not currently a position in our district who has their top priority as mental health �
• In district budget guidance (relevant conntent begins on page 28), we can see that social workers and school psychologists are not always expected to prioritize mental health, but we know when students have an adult to go to for help are 3.5x less likely to attempt suicide �
• Despite increases in school-based social workers, and school psychologists in 2016, students and school districts are overwhelmingly identifying mental health as a top need�
• Nearly 800 Denver community members and students supported hiring mental health counselors as an additional support in schools, because they know that a new position with an explicit focus on mental health is necessary to improve schools

What is a Mental Health Counselor?

• Students want a position where the top priority is mental health and social-emotional well-being of school communities. It is likely that many people qualified for this role will have a history in social work or mental health, the difference is in the priorities of this position, not the qualifications of applicants.�
• The term mental health counselor probably brings to mind a therapist who does talk sessions, that is part of what this position would do. While that would be a part of the position we recognize that there will need to be specific elements of the role that apply to mental health practices in schools generally, and in the specific schools these counselors would work in
• Should this recommendation be adopted there will need to be a collaborative effort to define the scope of the pilot program including the official JD for the position.�
• Mental Health counselors would have the flexibility to mold and meet the needs of any student at any school because they don’t have any legal mandates like a school psychologist or a school social worker.
• Within that flexibility, mental health counselors would have the ability to meet students where they are, at all school levels

What is a Mental Health Counselor? Pt 2

• The role could be responsible for the following, but is not limited to this (pulled from the job description pictured here, which was drafted by DPS students and alumni).
• Meets with students to provide safe space, talk-therapy/counseling conversations
• Uses culturally responsive practices to ensure that mental health resources and services are relevant and accessible to student population
• Coach students to build tools to manage stress, anxiety, sadness, depression, fear, anxiety
• Facilitate school-wide events and conversations to increase knowledge and understanding about mental health and decrease stigma
• Professional development for school staff to enable to application of tools gained through DPS trauma informed training
• Preventative care
• Has experience in crisis intervention and restorative practices
• Coordinates with other whole child team members such as social workers, psychologists, RJ coordinators
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FAQs

• Why does Our Turn suggest a pilot program?
• With limited Mill funds available for mental health, we know that a mental health counselor cannot be staffed in every school. We also know this would be a new position for DPS, so we believe it is important to build a structure where there are clear outcomes to be measured against and a set evaluation period. At the end of the pilot, DPS can evaluate whether or not to expand the staff position.�
• Why is this resources schools should provide?
• Schools are where students spend the majority of their time, and they are 21x more likely to seek support at schools based centers than anywhere else (ACLU).The idea that schools do not have a burden or are not the place to provide mental health resources is wrong. We understand that there are strains on schools and on budgets, but schools with mental health supports see increased attendance, improved achievement, and lower discipline rates (ACLU)��
• What is the cost of a mental health counselor?
• We estimate the cost of this position to be similar to that of other mental health professionals in schools. Estimating an average cost of $80,000 per staff, the mill money could staff a pilot program of up to ~30 positions.

FAQs

• Where will resources be prioritized?
• The BAC will have to make a decision about what schools/students are prioritized for resources regardless of the staffing position recommended, because of limited resources acquired through the Mill. In terms of directing resources coming out of a potential pilot program that staffs mental health counselors, we have thought about high priority schools, a split across schools levels, and directing resources to schools with high discipline rates. �
• How is a mental health counselor different than current positions?
• See slides 17-19. The difference between a mental health counselor and a school social worker or psychologist would be the priority of the position. Mental health counselors would work with the mental health team at schools as an auxiliary support. �
• How is a mental health counselor different than current positions?
• See slides 17-19. The difference between a mental health counselor and a school social worker or psychologist would be the priority of the position. Mental health counselors would work with the mental health team at schools as an auxiliary support.

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