The Teens at Risk program is for individuals attending Idaho secondary public schools who have been identified by school personnel or their designee as expressing or exhibiting indications of depression, suicidal inclination, emotional trauma, substance use, or other behaviors or symptoms that indicate the existence of, or that may lead to, the development of mental illness or a substance use disorder. The Department may enter into contracts for Teens at Risk programs in cooperation with Idaho public school districts subject to Department appropriations and available funding for this program. The Department reserves the right to make the final determination to award a school district a Teens at Risk contract. Effective date (5-8-09)

01.  Application. School districts may apply to the Department through a competitive application process. The Department will provide written information to the State Department of Education and interested school districts on the amount of funding available, closing date for submission of applications, and information on how to obtain application forms and instructions by July 1 of each year that funding is available. Only applications submitted on the prescribed forms and consistent with Department instructions will be considered for evaluation. Effective date (5-8-09)

02.  Contracting Process. Effective date (5-8-09)

• a. A team comprised of at least one (1) Department staff person, a representative from the state Department of Education, a representative from the local school district, and a parent, will evaluate the applications from school districts for contracts for Teens at Risk programs. The evaluation criteria will include the demonstrated need for the program in the school district and the contribution the school district is providing to the program, with a preference for rural school districts. The Department will consider the team recommendations and make the final determination of contracts for Teens at Risk programs. Effective date (5-8-09)

• b. The number of school districts awarded a Teens at Risk program will depend upon the amount of specific funding appropriated by the legislature for this program. Effective date (5-8-09)

• c. The Department will enter into a written contract with each school district awarded a Teens at Risk program. The contract will set forth the terms, services, data collecting, funding, and other activities prior to the implementation of the program. Effective date (5-8-09)

03.  Services. Teen early intervention specialists hired or under contract with the school district will be available to serve teens at risk within the school setting and offer group counseling, recovery support, suicide prevention and other mental health and substance use disorder counseling services as needed. Teens at risk who are not enrolled in public schools may only participate in services if assigned by a judge and with the permission of the local school administrator who administers the Teens at Risk program. Parents of teens participating in the Teens at Risk program will not incur a financial obligation for services provided by the program. Effective date (5-8-09)

04. Outcomes. The Department will gather data and evaluate the effectiveness of the Teens at Risk program. In accordance with Section 16-2404A(7), Idaho Code, the Department may contract with state universities or colleges to assist in the identification of appropriate data elements, data collection, and evaluation. Data elements used to evaluate the program may include: Effective date (5-8-09)

• a. Teen arrests, detention, and commitments to state custody; Effective date (5-8-09)
• b. Teen suicide rates; Effective date (5-8-09)
• c. Impacts on juvenile mental health and drug courts; Effective date (5-8-09)
• d. Access to mental health services; and Effective date (5-8-09)
• e. Academic achievement and school disciplinary actions. Effective date (5-8-09)

(6) School districts seeking to have one (1) or more teen early intervention specialists placed within its district may apply to the department of health and welfare for such placement. The department of health and welfare shall establish by rule a simple application process and criteria for placement of teen early intervention specialists in districts. The number of teen early intervention specialists placed in school districts in any given year shall be limited by the funds appropriated to the teen early intervention specialist program in that fiscal year. In evaluating applications for the three (3) year pilot project, the department of health and welfare shall give special consideration to rural districts and shall consider:

• (a) The demonstrated need for mental health and substance abuse counseling and treatment for teens at risk in the school district;
• (b) The resources and cooperation which the school district has proposed to contribute to the support of the teen early intervention specialist program for teens at risk; and
• (c) The funding appropriated to the teen early intervention specialist program for teens at risk.