CEC Policy Insider

House Hearing Focuses on Mental Health of Children; Highlights Role of Schools and PBIS

Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Education held a hearing to discuss addressing the mental health needs of children, an issue that is often an afterthought in communities throughout the country.

Deb Delisle, Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education; and Pamela Hyde, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration both testified on the important role of  identifying mental health challenges early, seeking treatment, and collaboration between communities and schools. 

In January, the Administration released Now is the Time an action plan for addressing school safety, a response to the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting which resulted in 26 children and educators killed by gunfire.  Today’s testimony highlighted many of the proposals put forth in the Now is the Time plan, including supporting a safe and positive school climate and increasing the number of mental health professionals who are trained to work with children.

Last month, CEC and its division, the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, issued Congressional testimony that outlined four policy considerations for school safety plans:

1. School safety policy proposals should use an interdisciplinary approach that reinforces a partnership between education, juvenile justice, mental health, social welfare, and community engagement  systems;
2. School safety policy proposals should require implementation of evidence based practices that address prevention and response while ameliorating the stigma associated with  mental illness;
3. School safety policy proposals should focus on the impact of mental health challenges on students’ social, educational, and employment outcomes; and
4. School safety policy proposals should confront and remedy the national shortage of special educators and specialized instructional support personnel who are trained to address the complex needs of students with mental health difficulties.

Additionally, the CEC/CCBD testimony provides practical steps policymakers can take to put these recommendations into action, such as supporting increased professional development for all school personnel; embracing whole school reforms that reinforce the important role of having a positive school climate and the collection of data and analysis tools to study and respond to school climate information; and addressing the national shortage of special educators and specialized instructional support personnel.

Click here to watch today’s hearing.

CEC/CCBD Congressional Testimony Proposes 4-Point Plan to Address School Safety

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce held the chamber’s first hearing on school safety since the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut in which 26 young students and educators were killed by gunfire.

The six witnesses, who represented a range of perspectives, all agreed that arming teachers was not the best way of addressing school safety and instead proposed ideas that focused on addressing the mental health needs of students; building strong relationships with students, families and the community; collaboration with school resource offices; and addressing the high caseloads of school counselors and other professionals.

CEC, in collaboration with its division the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD), submitted  Congressional Testimony which calls on policymakers to address four key areas, many of which were highlighted at today’s hearing:

1. School safety policy proposals should use an interdisciplinary approach that reinforces a partnership between education, juvenile justice, mental health, social welfare, and community engagement  systems;


2. School safety policy proposals should require implementation of evidence based practices that address prevention and response while ameliorating the stigma associated with  mental illness;


3. School safety policy proposals should focus on the impact of mental health challenges on students’ social, educational, and employment outcomes; and


4. School safety policy proposals should confront and remedy the national shortage of special educators and specialized instructional support personnel who are trained to address the complex needs of students with mental health difficulties.

Additionally, the CEC/CCBD testimony provides practical steps policymakers can take to put these recommendations into action, such as supporting increased professional development for all school personnel; embracing whole school reforms that reinforce the important role of having a positive school climate and the collection of data and analysis tools to study and respond to school climate information; and addressing the national shortage of special educators and specialized instructional support personnel.

Over the last two months, various proposals by the Obama Administration and Congress have been put forth to address gun violence and to promote safety in schools and the community.  CEC and CCBD are committed to working with lawmakers to promote policies and meaningful actions not only to address violence in schools and communities but to create solutions rooted in safety, prevention and an interdisciplinary approach.

Support Social and Emotional Learning Today!

Educators understand the importance of addressing the social and emotional needs of students, especially as it relates to success in school and in life. 

Now, urge your Representative to sign on to a letter – spearheaded by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) – supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) to U.S. Secretary Duncan.   Click here to take action!

As the Obama Administration is now considering proposals to address school violence, support a positive school climate and increase mental health services in schools, let them know that SEL should be part of these initiatives! 

The deadline for your Representative to sign onto the Ryan letter is February 26.  Simply use CEC’s Legislative Action Center to personalize a sample letter already written for you!  

Thank you for taking action!

Senate Bill Would Expand Mental Health Services; Attempts to Tackle Stigma

Last week , a bi-partisan group of senators -- led by Sens. Stabenow (D-MI) and Blunt (R-MO) -- introduced the Excellence in Mental Health Act, legislation that, among other things, would ensure that federally qualified community behavioral health centers include mental health services, including 24-hour crisis care, integrated physical-mental-substance abuse treatment, and additional support for families of individuals living with mental health issues.

This legislation comes in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School where 26 children and adults were killed by a young man armed with guns.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), said: "Most people living with mental illness are not a danger to themselves or anyone else. But the cost of inadequate treatment can be dire in some cases. In the aftermath of the tragedy in Connecticut and too many others like it, it is important to do everything possible to keep our children safe. Strengthening our mental health services is a critical part of that."

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), said: "In the wake of tragedies like Sandy Hook, we must work together to spend federal dollars more wisely when treating people who are mentally ill. This bill will help address our fragmented mental health system and ensure that more patients have access to the care they need by offering current Community Mental Health Centers a chance to expand their services and obtain the Federally Qualified Community Behavioral Health Center designation."

CEC has encouraged a comprehensive apporach to addressing the mental health and behavioral needs of children.  In December, CEC signed onto a statement written by researchers and expert practitioners, which emphasizes the priority of keeping children safe by focusing on balance, communication connectedness and support.

If you haven't read the CEC Today interview with Dr. George Sugai, an expert in emotional and behavioral disorders; and CEC's Special Interest Division, the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders President, Kris Melloy, we encourage you to do so by clicking here!

Learn more about about the Excellence in Mental Health Act here.

House Democrats Unveil Principles for Gun Violence Prevention

Last week, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, a group of 12 democratic lawmakers led by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), unveiled their plan to reduce gun violence set forth in 15 principles.

Of particular note to special/gifted educators is the plan's theme on providing additional support to schools to address the mental health needs of students.  Specifically, the plan highlights the need to:

1. Support initiatives that provide evidence-based approaches to creating safe learning environments that are tailored to the unique needs of the students and local communities;

2. Support the development of safety and emergency response plans to address both physical and emotional safety of students and support training for teachers and other personnel in implementing such a plan;

3. Support training for teachers, faculty and other personnel in responding to crisis situations;

4. Fund and prioritize evidence-based programs and practices for school based mental health programs to support direct services to K-12 students and promotes prevention and early identification.  The plan also proposes expanding mental health services and resources to post-secondary schools.

5. Make available programs that support a greater understanding of the early warning signs and risk factors for educators, students, law enforcement, first responders, and others.

6. Address the shortage of mental health professionals, particularly in rural areas;

7. De-stigmatize the issue of mental illness.

Read the complete plan here.