Outline of the state of Massachusetts
State
Massachusetts
Encouraged

Category
Professional Development for Mental Health

Category
Professional Development for Mental Health

State law encourages districts to provide professional development for school personnel on youth mental health.

General Laws of Massachusetts 111.223 Public Schools — Nutritional Standard for Competitive Foods and Beverages.

(b) The department, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of mental health, shall establish, and periodically review, guidelines for: (i) the training of all public school nurses in behavioral health and appropriate screening and resources for the treatment of childhood obesity and behavioral health disorders, including eating disorders.

Policy Type
Statute

General Laws of Massachusetts 69.1P Safe and supportive schools framework

(g) The commission shall: (i) investigate and make recommendations to the board on updating, improving and refining the framework and the self-assessment tool as appropriate; (ii) identify strategies for increasing schools’ capacity to carry out the administrative functions identified by the behavioral health and public schools task force; (iii) propose steps for improving schools’ access to clinically, culturally and linguistically appropriate services; (iv) identify and recommend evidenced-based training programs and professional development for school staff on addressing students’ behavioral health and creating safe and supportive learning environments; (v) identify federal funding sources that can be leveraged to support statewide implementation of the framework; (vi) develop recommendations on best practices for collaboration with families, including families of children with behavioral health needs; and (vii) examine and recommend model approaches for integrating school action plans, required under subsection (e), with school improvement plans and for using the framework to organize other school and district improvement processes.

Policy Type
Statute