Mental Health

Requests & Referrals

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Mental Health And Behavior Support Services

PAUSE…. EASE INTO THIS MOMEMT

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WHAT CAN WE CONTROL?

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• Our own competence
• Our professionalism
• The delivery of curriculum content assigned

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SCHOOL BASED RESOURCES

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WHAT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN?

Mental Health Clinicians (53 FTE)

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Each site has an assigned Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, ACSW, AMFT, or APCC). Allocation of days is dependent on population and programing.

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• Provide TIER 3 Service (school-based and IEP/504 driven individual, group, and family therapy)
• Consultation, Office hours
• Professional development, psychoeducation
• Mental Health Crisis Response Protocol-Teacher/Staff Training
• Table Talks (schedule with SBMH Coordinator)
• Crisis intervention

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GENERAL EDUCATION & SPECIAL EDUCATION

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School Based Mental Health Services (SBMHS)

(non-IEP students)

Requests are made by school counselor

Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS)

(IEP Students)

Referrals are made by school psychologists (within 15 days of parent/team request)

Site Mental Health Clinician completes the referral

process to assess and determine need for services

SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

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EDUCATIONALLY-RELATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES( IEP)

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HOW TO REFER A STUDENT TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

• Talk with the site administrator
• Administrators can collect and provide

information as needed

• Administrators can engage the school

counselor as needed

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• Talk with the school counselor
• School counselors can support the student
• School counselors can complete a Request for

SBMH Consultation or communicate the need for an

ERMHS Referral to the school psychologist

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WHAT TO EXPECT

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• Mental health treatment is confidential, so information may be shared only if necessary for

the safety or benefit of the student

• A MHC might call a student from instruction for assessment or direct services

• If a mental health clinician is assessing, they may come into the classroom to observe, or interview you to gather information

RESPONDING TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

Call the Site Administrator

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• SUSD has a board approved policy and Protocol for Responding to Students Experiencing Mental Health Needs/Crisis
• Mental health professionals that respond to mental health crisis include counselors, school psychologist, nurses, and mental health clinicians

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ESCALATION CYCLE

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SCHOOL TRIGGERS/EXAMPLES

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• Academic Tasks
• Social Interactions
• Sensory Overload
• Change in Routine

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CO-REGULATION

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“...the warmth with which one

relates to one’s self is a

self-related process that affects self-regulation and behavior”

(Harvard Review of Psychiatry: 11/12 2020 - Volume 28 - Issue 6 - p 371-394 doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000277)

“If the child has not had enough past regulatory experiences of being soothed

through the power of a loving relationship, the child's ability to self-regulate is insufficient to shift to a state of regulation on his own” (Heather Forbes, LCSW)

PYRAMID OF NEEDS FOR A CHILD

How to get to learning……

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HIERARCHY OF LEARNING

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●Physiological

Breathing, free from hunger and thirst, rested, homeostasis, regulation

●Safety

physical safety, emotional safety, free from bullies, free from harsh punishment

●Relationship

friends, teachers, school admin, counselors, therapists, school personnel, family

●Esteem

Self respect, confidence, respect of others, being respected by others

desire to achieve

●Learning

-motivation, creativity, problem solving, memory, curiosity

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CO-REGULATION

The body awareness technique will bring you into the here-and-now by directing your focus to sensations in the body. Pay special attention to the physical sensations created by each step.

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CO-REGULATE IN A CRISIS

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CO-REGULATE IN A CRISIS

1. Model for the child. Often times they aren’t aware of their behavior or what they should do.
2. Use non-threatening body language
3. Show them you are listening and are there to support them.
4. Validate and help them name their feelings.
5. Offer prompts, and choices of what is acceptable.
6. Be empathetic – how they feel is valid.
7. Listen – you can never listen too much.

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MODEL

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BODY AWARENESS

1. Take 5 long, deep breaths through your nose, and exhale through puckered lips.

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2. Place both feet flat on the floor. Wiggle your toes. Curl and uncurl your toes several times. Spend a moment noticing the sensations in your feet.

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3. Stomp your feet on the ground several times. Pay attention to the sensations in your feet and legs as you make contact with the ground.

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4. Clench your hands into fists, then release the tension. Repeat this 10 times.

The body awareness technique will bring you into the here-and-now by directing your focus to sensations in the body. Pay special attention to the physical sensations created by each step.

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5. Press your palms together. Press them harder and hold this pose for 15 seconds. Pay attention to the feeling of tension in your hands and arms.

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6. Rub your palms together briskly. Notice and sound and the feeling of warmth.

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7. Reach your hands over your head like you’re trying to reach the sky. Stretch like this for 5 seconds. Bring your arms down and let them relax at your sides.

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8. Take 5 more deep breaths and notice the feeling of calm in your body.

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BALLOON COLOR BREATHING

This quick technique can be used individually or as a whole group (great for adults who need a quick grounding method)

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• Place your hands on your belly and to take a deep breath
• Imagine your belly as a balloon inflating on the inhale and deflating on the exhale
• Inhale– Imaging your favorite color or scent entering your body, bringing you joy and calm

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• Exhale– Imagine your least favorite color or thoughts exiting your body, bringing you joy and calm
• Balloon-belly breathing promotes relaxation and a sense of calm

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SUMMARY

• Board approved crisis response procedure

• You can practice strategies when tensions arise in the classroom for students and for yourself

• Stockton Unified has robust mental health resources including mental health clinicians

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THANK YOU!

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https://www.stocktonusd.net/staff-directory-home

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