Outline of the state of Massachusetts
State
Massachusetts
Required

Category
School-based or School-linked Mental Health Services

Category
School-based or School-linked Mental Health Services

State law requires districts to establish school-based or school-linked mental health promotion and intervention programs.

General Laws of Massachusetts 69.1P Safe and supportive schools framework

(a) As used in this section the term “safe and supportive schools” shall mean schools that foster a safe, positive, healthy and inclusive whole-school learning environment that: (i) enables students to develop positive relationships with adults and peers, regulate their emotions and behavior, achieve academic and non-academic success in school and maintain physical and psychological health and well-being; and (ii) integrates services and aligns initiatives that promote students’ behavioral health, including social and emotional learning, bullying prevention, trauma sensitivity, dropout prevention, truancy reduction, children’s mental health, foster care and homeless youth education, inclusion of students with disabilities, positive behavioral approaches that reduce suspensions and expulsions and other similar initiatives.

Policy Type
Statute

General Laws of Massachusetts 71.37Q Mental health support plans

(b) Each school district, charter school, approved private day or residential school and collaborative school shall develop and adhere to a plan to address the general mental health needs of its students, including the students’ families, teachers and school administrators. Each plan shall also address the potential need for emergency and acute treatment for students, including the students’ families, teachers and school administrators as a result of a tragedy or crisis within the district or school. Before September 1 of each year, each school district, charter school, approved private day or residential school and collaborative school shall review and update its plan to achieve best practices.

(c) The department of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules or regulations necessary to carry out this section.

(d) No public employer shall be liable for injury, loss of property, personal injury or death caused by an act or omission of a public employee while acting in the scope of the public employee’s employment and arising out of the implementation of this section. This section shall not be construed as creating or imposing a specific duty of care.

Policy Type
Statute