Collaborative
- Working with 28 school districts, representing nearly 100 schools from throughout the greater Houston region.
- Identification and implementation of best practices to empower school personnel with the knowledge they need to prevent mental illness among students and to ensure early identification and intervention for those exhibiting signs and symptoms of behavioral health concerns.
- Helping schools in their efforts to create trauma-informed environments to address adverse childhood experiences that are linked to health outcomes in both childhood and adulthood.
- In Texas, there is 1 school counselor for every 450 students. Nearly 2x the number recommended by the national association of school counselors. In Houston ISD there is only 1 counselor for every 1,604 students. Given this context a school based system of care is essential.
Statistics from MHA National State of Mental Health 2020 Report
- 3.61% (or 88,000) Texas youth reported a substance use disorder in the past year
- 65.4% (or 180,000) Texas youth have untreated depression
- 10.1 (or 93,000) Texas children lack mental health coverage
- Texas ranks 50th for mental health work force availability; the ratio of provider to person is 960:1
- According to the 2017 Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students reported under the category of emotional disturbance received out-of-school suspensions of expulsions at a rate nearly 3 times higher than students reported under the disability category with the next highest rate.14
- Under the IDEA, passed in 1975, the federal government promised to pay 40 percent of the average expenditure per student for special education. However, the government’s funding in 2017 was only 14.6 percent, leaving schools with a critical funding gap to ensure access to needed resources in special education to their students.
Current statistics for mental health in texas
In Texas, there is 1 school counselor for every 450 students. Nearly 2x the number recommended by the national association of school counselors. In Houston ISD there is only 1 counselor for every 1,604 students. Given this context a school based system of care is essential.
Stats from MHA National State of Mental Health 2020 Report:
3.61% (or 88,000) Texas youth reported a substance use disorder in the past year
- 65.4% (or 180,000) Texas youth have untreated depression
- 10.1 (or 93,000) Texas children lack mental health coverage
- Texas ranks 50th for mental health work force availability; the ratio of provider to person is 960:1
- According to the 2017 Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students reported under the category of emotional disturbance received out-of-school suspensions of expulsions at a rate nearly 3 times higher than students reported under the disability category with the next highest rate.14
- Under the IDEA, passed in 1975, the federal government promised to pay 40 percent of the average expenditure per student for special education. However, the government’s funding in 2017 was only 14.6 percent, leaving schools with a critical funding gap to ensure access to needed resources in special education to their students.
- 2 in 5 youth suffer from mental health and substance use disorders (Harris county mental health services for children and families 2017)
- Troubled Texas Teens (Texans Care For Children)
- 19% of texas high school students reported being bullied on campus (CDC)
- Nearly 1 in 8 Texas high school students attempted suicide in 2017 (Texans Care for Children)
- A 2017 Texas teen suicide report by centers for disease control shows a need for school support
Prevention Institute + MHA of Greater Houston:
Kognito: Are Teachers and Staff Ready to Apply Trauma-Informed Practices?
Download the full Whitepaper report here
With Unicef funding support, the MHAGH’s CSBH Collaborative partnered with Kognito to develop trauma-focused training modules for educators in response to Hurricane Harvey. As a result of this partnership, Greater Houston area educators and staff gained free access to Kognito and continue to utilize Kognito in their daily practice.
- Trauma affects nearly half of America’s youth
- 98% of those surveyed agreed that educators should receive training on trauma-informed classroom practices
- 82% agree the role of teachers and staff is to connect students experiencing psychological trauma or distress with mental health support services
- 3 in 5 educators don’t feel adequately prepared to teach students activities to manage their stress and emotions
- 7 in 10 educators do not feel adequately prepared to implement trauma informed practices in their teaching
- Students who have experienced trauma are more likely to experience low self-esteem, poor self-regulation, and increased anxiety
Explore More of the Center for School Behavioral Health
CSBH Collaboration
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Professional Development
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