C. Psychological and Mental Health Services

• 1. Mental and emotional health issues directly impede students' abilities to learn. Such issues include bullying, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, anxiety, and domestic violence, as well as psychiatric disorders.
• 2. Therefore, each LEA shall:
• a. Ensure that students have access to a coordinated program of culturally and linguistically responsive psychological and mental health services, on site or through effective referral systems;
• b. Ensure that school psychological and mental health services will be provided by appropriately credentialed, high quality staff. Services must provide for identification of risks and assessment of service needs; primary prevention; individual, family, and group counseling; consultative services; and resource and service coordination; and
• c. To the extent practicable, ensure that schools coordinate with community youth development, prevention, and treatment efforts.

A. All schools, as defined in § 4.3(A)(47) of this Part, that are approved pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-19-1 and 16-19-2 are required to have a comprehensive school health program approved by RIDE and RIDOH in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-7. B. A comprehensive school health program as defined in § 4.3(A)(11) of this Part, consists of three (3) components:

1. Health education;
2. Health services; and
3. A healthful school environment.
4. The health education program (curriculum and personnel) for non-public schools must be consistent with the provisions of § 4.5(A) of this Part. C. The administrative head of school(s) is responsible for the comprehensive school health program and is required to:
5. Develop a manual of procedures (protocols) governing health education, health services and a healthful school environment. This manual must be available at the Superintendent's office and at each school. Procedures must address the statutory and regulatory requirements of this Part and include provisions pertaining to, but not limited to, the following: a. Students and/or employees infected with HIV/AIDS or hepatitis; b. Substance abuse; c. The use of alcohol and tobacco products on school premises and at authorized school activities; d. Suicidal behavior; e. The prevention and management of injuries and violent behaviors for the protection and safety of students on school premises and at authorized school activities; and f. Provisions regarding the three (3) statutory waivers for exemption of a student from health education curricula pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-22-18(c) sexuality and family life; 16-22-17(c) HIV/AIDS; and 16-21-7(a) the characteristics, symptoms or treatment of disease.

(14) To establish health education, alcohol and substance abuse programs for students in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12), in accordance with § 35-4-18. The program will consist of the following: A mandated state health education, alcohol and substance abuse curriculum for grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12), a mandated assessment program in the areas of health, fitness, alcohol and substance abuse, and an in-service training program that will be developed specifically for the implementation of the mandated curriculum.

In recognition of the growing problem of substance use and abuse that municipalities face the purpose of this chapter is as follows: (1) To promote the opportunity for municipalities to establish a comprehensive substance abuse prevention program addressing the specific needs of each individual municipality. (2) To encourage the development of partnership among municipal governments, school systems, parents, and human service providers to serve the interest of the community in addressing the need for a comprehensive substance abuse prevention program. (3) To promote a substance abuse prevention program in every community. (4) To provide financial assistance for the planning, establishment, and operation of substance abuse prevention programs. (5) To encourage municipal governments, in cooperation with school systems and human services organizations to jointly assess the extent of the substance abuse problem in their community.

In recognition of the growing problem of substance use and abuse among youth and that the average age of onset of substance use and abuse is middle school age, the purpose of this chapter is as follows: (1) To establish a student assistance program in every public junior high/middle school based upon the model currently operating successfully in Rhode Island high schools. (2) The student assistance program will address the following areas: (i) Identification and supportive services for high risk youth; (ii) Primary prevention programming in junior high/middle schools; (iii) Assessment and referral services for substance abuse problems; (iv) School staff training on integration of prevention/intervention program; (v) Parent and community programming for substance abuse prevention; (vi) Focused prevention/support groups for high risk youth; (vii) Development and integration of school substance abuse policy with prevention/intervention services; (viii) To promote integration between student assistance programs and community substance abuse prevention task forces. (3) To establish a pilot student assistance program in public elementary schools to the extent that funds are available from the junior high/middle school student assistance fund for that purpose. (4) To establish a student assistance program in every public high school to the extent that funds are available.

(n) Each school district shall file a description of the following instructional procedures and programs with the department every year: (9) Drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse programs.

(18) Establish alcohol and substance abuse prevention programs for students in kindergarten through grade twelve (12), in accordance with § 35-4-18. The director shall make an annual report to the governor and the general assembly on the administration of the program and shall submit to the governor and the general assembly the results of an independent evaluation of the alcohol and substance abuse prevention program established in accordance with this section. This evaluation shall address the following areas: (i) Program development; (ii) Implementation; (iii) Impact; and (iv) Recommendations for future needs.