Outline of the state of Utah
State
Utah
Required

Category
State Models and Supports—Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services

Category
State Models and Supports—Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services

State law requires state agencies to develop models and guidance for districts to support implementation of counseling, psychological, and social services.

Utah Administrative Code R277-620-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) This rule is authorized under:

  • (a) Utah Constitution Article X Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board; and
  • (b) Section 53E-3-401(4) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

(2) The purposes of this rule are:

  • (a) to provide for collaboration with the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to establish, oversee, and provide model policies, programs for an LEA and training for parents about youth suicide prevention programs;
  • (b) to require an LEA to have and update youth protection policies; and
  • (c) to direct an LEA to send notice to parents and protect the confidentiality of the required parent notification record regarding bullying and suicide incidents.
Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-620-3. Youth suicide prevention grants - LEA reporting requirements.

(1) The Superintendent, in collaboration with the Department of Health - State Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the State suicide prevention coordinator, shall establish model youth suicide prevention programs for LEAs that include training and resources addressing:

  • (a) prevention of youth suicides;
  • (b) standard response protocols that utilize trauma informed practices, which may reference the ACES or other empirical data;
  • (c) youth suicide intervention; and
  • (d) postvention for family, students, and faculty.

(2) Based on legislative appropriation, the Board shall distribute funds to LEAs to support suicide prevention efforts in the school district or charter school.

  • (a) An LEA may use the awarded funds to select and implement:
  • (i) evidenced-based practices and programs; or
  • (ii) emerging best practices and programs.

(3) An LEA shall implement youth suicide prevention programs for students in secondary grades, including grades 7 through 12 and grade 6, if grade 6 is part of a secondary grade model.

(4) An LEA's youth suicide prevention program shall include the components provided in Subsection 53G-9-702(2).

(5) An LEA shall establish a policy governing the required parent notification outlined in Sections 53G-9-604(2) and 53G-9-605(3)(e) and Subsection R277-613-4.

(6) An LEA shall provide necessary reporting information consistent with Subsection 53G-9-702(7) for the Board's report on the coordination of suicide prevention programs and seminar program implementation to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee.

Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Administrative Code R277-622-3. School-based Mental Health Plan.

(1) To qualify for a School-based Mental Health Qualified Grant, an LEA shall submit a plan to the Superintendent. (2) The plan shall include:

  • (a) a three-year projection for the LEA's goals, metrics, and outcomes;
  • (b) requirements outlined in Subsection 53F-2-415(3);
  • (c) plan for improving access to students who are underserved or at risk;
  • (d) how qualified personnel will increase access to mental health services;
  • (e) a process for utilization of qualified personnel in participating with an LEA's care team as outlined in R277-400;
  • (f) the source of the LEA's matching funds; and
  • (g) a timeline and process for stakeholder training in trauma-informed practices. (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), an LEA shall submit the LEA's plan no later than May 31 for a funding distribution to be made for the upcoming school year. (4) An LEA shall submit a plan no later than June 7 for a funding distribution to be made in Fiscal Year 20. (5) An LEA's approved plan is valid for three years and may be required to be reapproved after three years of implementation.
Policy Type
Regulation

Utah Code 53F-2-415. Student health and counseling support - Qualifying personnel - Distribution formula - Rulemaking.

(1) As used in this section, “qualifying personnel” means a school counselor or other counselor, school psychologist or other psychologist, school social worker or other social worker, or school nurse who:

  • (a) is licensed; and
  • (b) collaborates with educators and a student’s parent on:
  • (i) early identification and intervention of the student’s academic and mental health needs; and
  • (ii) removing barriers to learning and developing skills and behaviors critical for the student’s academic achievement.

(2)

  • (a) Subject to legislative appropriations, and in accordance with Subsection (2)(b), the state board shall distribute money appropriated under this section to LEAs to provide in a school targeted school-based mental health support, including clinical services and trauma-informed care, through employing or entering into contracts for services provided by qualifying personnel.
  • (b)
  • (i) The state board shall, after consulting with LEA governing boards, develop a formula to distribute money appropriated under this section to LEAs.
  • (ii) The state board shall ensure that the formula described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) incentivizes an LEA to provide school-based mental health support in collaboration with the local mental health authority of the county in which the LEA is located.

(5) An LEA may not use money distributed by the state board under this section to supplant federal, state, or local money previously allocated to employ or enter into contracts for services provided by qualified personnel.

(8) Beginning on or before July 1, 2019, the state board shall provide training that instructs school personnel on the impact of childhood trauma on student learning, including information advising educators against practicing medicine, giving a diagnosis, or providing treatment.

Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 53F-5-206. Grant awards for elementary suicide prevention programs.

(1) To foster suicide prevention, resiliency, and anti-bullying programs in elementary schools, the public education suicide prevention coordinator, described in Section 53G-9-702, shall award grants to elementary schools.

(2) A grant award may not exceed $500 per school per year.

(3) The application for a grant shall contain:

  • (a) a requested award amount;
  • (b) a budget; and
  • (c) a narrative plan of the suicide prevention, resiliency, or anti-bullying program.

(4) When awarding a grant under this section, the public education suicide prevention coordinator shall consider:

  • (a) the content of a grant application; and
  • (b) whether an application is submitted in the manner and form prescribed.

(5) Each elementary school applicant may select a program, including a peer-to-peer program or a curriculum-based program, that the applicant determines is appropriate for the elementary school.

Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 53F-5-209. Grants for school-based mental health supports.

(2) Subject to legislative appropriations and Subsection (3), the state board shall award a grant to an LEA to provide targeted school-based mental health support in an elementary school, including trauma-informed care, through employment of qualifying personnel. (3) In awarding a grant under this section, the state board shall give:

  • (a) first priority to an LEA that proposes to target funds to one or more elementary schools with a high percentage of students exhibiting risk factors for childhood trauma; and
  • (b) second priority to an LEA that proposes to target funds to one or more elementary schools with a high percentage of students experiencing intergenerational poverty. (8) Beginning on or before July 1, 2019, the state board shall provide training that instructs educators on the impact of trauma on student learning, including information advising educators against practicing medicine, giving a diagnosis, or providing treatment.
Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 53G-8-802. State Safety and Support Program — State board duties.

(1) There is created the State Safety and Support Program.

(2) The state board shall:

  • (a) develop in conjunction with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health model student safety and support policies for an LEA, including:
  • (i) evidence-based procedures for the assessment of and intervention with an individual whose behavior poses a threat to school safety;
  • (ii) procedures for referrals to law enforcement; and
  • (iii) procedures for referrals to a community services entity, a family support organization, or a health care provider for evaluation or treatment;
  • (b) provide training:
  • (i) in school safety;
  • (ii) in evidence-based approaches to improve school climate and address and correct bullying behavior;
  • (iii) in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may pose a threat to the school community;
  • (iv) in evidence-based approaches in identifying an individual who may be showing signs or symptoms of mental illness;
  • (v) on permitted disclosures of student data to law enforcement and other support services under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g; and
  • (vi) on permitted collection of student data under 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232h and Sections 53E-9-203 and 53E-9-305;
  • (c) conduct and disseminate evidence-based research on school safety concerns;
  • (d) disseminate information on effective school safety initiatives;
  • (e) encourage partnerships between public and private sectors to promote school safety;
  • (f) provide technical assistance to an LEA in the development and implementation of school safety initiatives;
  • (g) in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety, develop and make available to an LEA a model critical incident response training program that includes protocols for conducting a threat assessment, and ensuring building security during an incident;
  • (h) provide space for the public safety liaison described in Section link text53-1-106 and the school-based mental health specialist described in Section 62A-15-103;
  • (i) create a model school climate survey that may be used by an LEA to assess stakeholder perception of a school environment and, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, adopt rules:
  • (i) requiring an LEA to:
  • (A) create or adopt and disseminate a school climate survey; and
  • (B) disseminate the school climate survey;
  • (ii) recommending the distribution method, survey frequency, and sample size of the survey; and
  • (iii) specifying the areas of content for the school climate survey; and
  • (j) collect aggregate data and school climate survey results from each LEA.

(3) Nothing in this section requires an individual to respond to a school climate survey.

Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 53G-9-702. Youth suicide prevention programs required in secondary schools -- State Board of Education to develop model programs -- Reporting requirements.

3) The state board shall:

  • (a) designate a public education suicide prevention coordinator; and
  • (b) in collaboration with the Department of Heath and the state suicide prevention coordinator, develop model programs to provide to school districts and charter schools:
  • (i) program training; and
  • (ii) resources regarding the required components described in Subsection (2)(b).

(4) The public education suicide prevention coordinator shall:

  • (a) oversee the youth suicide prevention programs of school districts and charter schools;

  • (b) coordinate prevention and postvention programs, services, and efforts with the state suicide prevention coordinator; and

  • (c) award grants in accordance with Section 53F-5-206.

  • (b) The state board shall distribute money under Subsection (6)(a) so that each school that enrolls students in grade 7 or a higher grade receives an allocation of at least $1,000.

  • (c)

  • (i) A school shall use money allocated to the school under Subsection (6)(b) to implement evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide.

  • (ii) Each school may select the evidence-based practices and programs, or emerging best practices and programs, for preventing suicide that the school implements.

Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 53G-9-704. Youth suicide prevention training for employees.

(1) A school district or charter school shall require a licensed employee to complete a minimum of two hours of professional development training on youth suicide prevention every three years. (2) The state board shall:

  • (a) develop or adopt sample materials to be used by a school district or charter school for professional development training on youth suicide prevention; and
  • (b) incorporate in rule the training described in Subsection (1) into professional development training described in Section 53E-6-201.
Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 62A-15-103. Division — Creation — Responsibilities.

(1) (a) There is created the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health within the department, under the administration and general supervision of the executive director.

  • (b) The division is the substance abuse authority and the mental health authority for this state.

(2) The division shall:

  • (11) The division shall employ a school-based mental health specialist to be housed at the State Board of Education who shall work with the State Board of Education to:
  • (a) provide coordination between a local education agency and local mental health authority;
  • (b) recommend evidence-based and evidence informed mental health screenings and intervention assessments for a local education agency; and
  • (c) coordinate with the local community, including local departments of health, to enhance and expand mental health related resources for a local education agency.
Policy Type
Statute

Utah Code 62A-15-1101. Suicide prevention — Reporting requirements.

(1) The division shall appoint a state suicide prevention coordinator to administer a state suicide prevention program composed of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention programs, services, and efforts.

(2) The coordinator shall:

  • (a) establish a Statewide Suicide Prevention Coalition with membership from public and private organizations and Utah citizens; and
  • (b) appoint a chair and co-chair from among the membership of the coalition to lead the coalition.

(3) The state suicide prevention program may include the following components:

  • (a) delivery of resources, tools, and training to community-based coalitions;
  • (b) evidence-based suicide risk assessment tools and training;
  • (c) town hall meetings for building community-based suicide prevention strategies;
  • (d) suicide prevention gatekeeper training;
  • (e) training to identify warning signs and to manage an at-risk individual’s crisis;
  • (f) evidence-based intervention training;
  • (g) intervention skills training; and
  • (h) postvention training.

(4) The coordinator shall coordinate with the following to gather statistics, among other duties:

  • (a) local mental health and substance abuse authorities;
  • (b) the State Board of Education, including the public education suicide prevention coordinator described in Section 53G-9-702;
  • (c) the Department of Health;
  • (d) health care providers, including emergency rooms;
  • (e) federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
  • (f) other unbiased sources; and
  • (g) other public health suicide prevention efforts.

(5) The coordinator shall provide a written report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee, at or before the October meeting every year, on:

  • (a) implementation of the state suicide prevention program, as described in Subsections (1) and (3);
  • (b) data measuring the effectiveness of each component of the state suicide prevention program;
  • (c) funds appropriated for each component of the state suicide prevention program; and
  • (d) five-year trends of suicides in Utah, including subgroups of youths and adults and other subgroups identified by the state suicide prevention coordinator.
Policy Type
Statute