The department, in cooperation with the department of health, may establish a statewide teenage health program designed to enhance self-esteem, facilitate communication between students and their parents, incorporate ho ‘oponopono techniques in group discussions, expand peer counseling efforts, and provide more counseling opportunities. In implementing this program, the department shall strive to respect and include the diverse needs and values of parents and teenagers served by the program.

(a) The department, in collaboration with the department of health, shall develop a mandatory youth suicide awareness and health, shall develop a mandatory youth suicide awareness and for complex areas and charter schools based on the department of health's existing suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and materials, which shall be provided to teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, and counselors.

(b) By September 15 of each year, each complex area shall report to the department on prior school year training prevention activities completed as described by this section.

(d) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to include and require contracted workers to participate in and comply with the suicide awareness and prevention training program and risk referral protocol requirements under this section and section 302D-36.

The children’s mental health services team shall cooperate with the schools located in their particular geographic region in identifying and referring for treatment such children or youths in need of mental health services. In conjunction with the children’s mental health services team, the department of education and the department of health shall develop a memorandum of agreement which shall provide for a sharing of responsibilities for the affected agencies and shall include but not be limited to provisions for:

• (1) Accepting referrals from the school counselors and diagnostic teams for evaluation and direct treatment of children and youth suffering from mental and emotional disorders;

• (2) Providing consultation to enable teachers and other school personnel to aid in the identification and screening of children in need of professional mental health services and the services of psychologists, as defined in chapter 465;

• (3) Providing training and education about emotional disturbances of children to teachers, school counselors, and parents;

• (4) Assisting the department of education with mental health services and the services of psychologists, as defined in chapter 465 for handicapped children;

• (5) Developing an ongoing mechanism to assess, document and report to the legislature and the governor unmet needs for mental health services for students in each geographic region; and

• (6) Performing other related services for school personnel, children, and parents.

Document provides information on programs and practices to support implementation of counseling, psychological, and social services.