S-3722.1
SENATE BILL 6243
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State of Washington | 64th Legislature | 2016 Regular Session |
By Senators Litzow, Fain, McAuliffe, Dammeier, Rivers, O'Ban, Bailey, Hill, Warnick, Becker, Hewitt, Keiser, Carlyle, Darneille, Rolfes, Conway, and Mullet
Read first time 01/13/16. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.
AN ACT Relating to a training program for educators and parents to develop students' social and emotional skills to help prevent youth suicide; amending RCW
28A.310.500; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that suicide is the second leading cause of death in Washington for youth ten to twenty-four years of age. The legislature acknowledges that most suicides are preventable and that early prevention within schools can help decrease the number of youth suicides. The legislature recognizes that schools can aid in the development of social and emotional foundations for students. The legislature intends to develop a training program for middle and high school staff and parents or guardians focused on developing students' social and emotional skills to help prevent youth suicide.
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.310.500 and 2013 c 197 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Each educational service district shall develop and maintain the capacity to offer training for educators and other school district staff on youth suicide screening and referral, and on recognition, initial screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students, including but not limited to indicators of possible substance abuse, violence, and youth suicide. An educational service district may demonstrate capacity by employing staff with sufficient expertise to offer the training or by contracting with individuals or organizations to offer the training. Training may be offered on a fee-for-service basis, or at no cost to school districts or educators if funds are appropriated specifically for this purpose or made available through grants or other sources.
(2) The educational service districts shall work with Forefront at the University of Washington to develop a two-day youth suicide prevention training program for middle and high school administrators, teachers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and parents or guardians. The training program must address the following:
(a) Developmentally appropriate, evidence-based curriculum and programs;
(b) Parent and peer education;
(c) Strategies for creating school environments with a focus on social and emotional needs; and
(d) Basic training for teachers and students in how to recognize and support a student who may be struggling.
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