1. Every two years, each school district shall provide a minimum of eight hours of professional development on youth behavioral health to elementary, middle, and high school teachers, and administrators. Each school district shall encourage ancillary and support staff to participate in the professional development. Based on the annual needs assessment of the school district, these hours must be designated from the following categories:

   • a. Trauma;
   • b. Social and emotional learning, including resiliency;
   • c. Suicide prevention;
   • d. Bullying;
   • e. Understanding of the prevalence and impact of youth behavioral health wellness on family structure, education, juvenile services, law enforcement, and health care and treatment providers;
   • f. Knowledge of behavioral health symptoms, and risks;
   • g. Awareness of referral sources and evidence-based strategies for appropriate interventions;
   • h. Other evidence-based strategies to reduce risk factors for students; or
   • i. Current or new evidence-based behavior prevention or mitigation techniques.

2. Each school district shall report the professional development hours required under subsection 1 to the department of public instruction.

3. Each school within a district shall designate an individual as a behavioral health resource coordinator.

4. The superintendent of public instruction shall collaborate with regional education associations to disseminate information, training and instructional materials, and notice of training opportunities to school districts and nonpublic schools.

5. The superintendent of public instruction shall maintain the contact information of the behavioral health resource coordinator in each school.

Webpage with links to Central Regional Education Association information, on administering SEL support in North Dakota.