The District considers child exposure to adverse childhood experience, child mental health, and suicide as serious matters which impact learning opportunities for students, classroom, and instructional challenges for staff and ultimately, if not addressed, can lead to lifelong struggles, attempted suicide and loss of life. The District will follow all laws and regulations regarding the training required to inform staff of identification and referral to services for students with mental health challenges.
The District shall provide suicide prevention and postvention training and training on the identification of adverse childhood experiences and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response for all school personnel who hold a license, certificate, authorization or statement of recognition issued by the board of educational examiners and who have regular contact with students in kindergarten through grade twelve. The training shall begin July 1, 2019, and occur annually between July 1 and June 30, thereafter. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
“Adverse childhood experience” means a potentially traumatic event occurring in childhood that can have negative, lasting effects on an individual’s health and well-being.
“Postvention” means the provision of crisis intervention, support, and assistance for those affected by a suicide or suicide attempt to prevent further risk of suicide.
The suicide prevention and postvention training shall be evidence-based, evidence-supported and be at least one hour in length. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
The identification of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response training shall be evidence-based, evidence-supported, and be at least one hour in length or as determined by the Superintendent. The content of the training shall be based on nationally recognized best practices.
Approved: November 25, 2019
Revised/Reviewed: February 27, 2023