New Resource From U.S. Department of Education on Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health [downloadable]

On October 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education released a new resource: Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health to provide information and resources to enhance the promotion of mental health and the social and emotional well-being among children and students. This resource highlights seven key challenges to providing school- or program-based mental health support across early childhood, K–12 schools, and higher education settings, and presents seven corresponding recommendations.

State Education Agencies and local school districts can use the resources in the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program (ARP ESSER), as well as previous rounds of ESSER funds, to implement these recommendations and ensure students receive the support they need. Through ARP ESSER alone, state and local education leaders have $122 billion available to them to ensure the mental health, social, emotional and academic needs of our students are met.

More than 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, it is particularly important to acknowledge the pandemic’s impact on mental health at home and around the world, to present an opportunity for meaningful conversations about mental health, and to celebrate schools and other institutions that have found new and promising ways to provide mental health services to students. This document is part of the Return to School Roadmap, which stresses the importance of supporting students’ social, emotional and mental health to create a strong foundation for students’ academic success.

This resource for educators and practitioners is intended to supplement and build on the information in the prior released ED COVID-19 Handbooks:

Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools,

Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs, and

Volume 3: Strategies for Safe Operation and Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education Students, Faculty, and Staff

Download Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health as a PDF.

This resource follows World Mental Health Day, earlier in October, as well as new guidance from the Department and the Department of Justice on Supporting Students at Risk of Self-Harm in the Era of COVID-19.

Source: U.S. Department of Education |U.S. Department of Education Releases New Resource on Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health during COVID-19 Era, https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-new-resource-supporting-child-and-student-social-emotional-behavioral-and-mental-health-during-covid-19-era | Public domain. Retrieved October 19, 2021.

If you have concerns about your child or teen, CHC Care Coordinators can arrange a free 30-minute consultation so you can explore options with an expert. We invite you to call or email us at 650.688.3625 or careteam@chconline.org to set up an initial Parent Consultation appointment. CHC teletherapy services are available now.