Tampa, FL: District to increase access to mental health therapists

June 12, 2018, WUSF, Tampa, FL: Duval School District Beefing Up Mental Health Resources To Comply With State Law http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/duval-school-district-beefing-mental-health-resources-comply-state-law Duval Cty The law requires services follow students from assessment and diagnosis through intervention and treatment to recovery. This comes at a time where Duval students are self reporting higher rates of attempting suicide and depression than other children in the state. The district plans to increase the number of full service schools having access to therapists from 75 schools to 106, cutting the therapist to school ratio from 1:5 to 1:2. In addition, the district wants to double the number of “full service plus” schools to 24. In plus schools therapists are a permanent fixture on campus with their own offices, in contrast to the full service model, where therapists travel to students needing assistance. During a May interview, district staff said 20 percent more students referred for services actually get them in plus schools…. Next school year the Duval County School District could employ double the current number of therapists. That’s part of its plan to strengthen mental health services for students under the state’s school safety bill passed after February’s Parkland shooting.