Aug 28, 2018, Montgomery (AL) Advertiser: Mental health services hot topic at Federal Commission on School Safety meeting https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/education/2018/08/28/mental-health-services-hot-topic-federal-commission-school-safety-meeting/1074370002/ Leaders from across the South gathered at the Alabama Capitol on Tuesday afternoon to talk about the things they are doing, and the things that they need help with in regards to school safety as part of two roundtable discussions hosted by the Federal Commission on School Safety. A major theme that was focused on was the mental health of students and how schools need to be more proactive in dealing with mental health issues before unsafe situations occur. In the public comment section following, the same message was reiterated by several speakers. While many leaders pointed to needed logistical improvements focused on the security of a campus, as Gov. Kay Ivey put it, Alabama could build walls around schools as strong as “Fort Knox,” but the real threat is often coming from inside the building from students struggling with mental or societal issues…. So far in Alabama, Beshear said the Department of Education and the Mental Health Department came together “without any money” in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting to address school safety. From that, 12 of the state’s mental health centers have created programs in 47 Alabama schools that bring mental health counselors into the school, with schools providing a space for the student to receive services. Parents, administrators and teachers help to identify students that are in need of help…. Donna Bahorich, chair of the Texas State Board of Education, reiterated the importance of providing training to teachers and administrators on how to identify students struggling with mental health issues, and getting information to parents on what resources exist for services….
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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