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Board refers 'Our Healing in Our Hands' youth mental‑health resolution to budget and curriculum committees after lengthy public comment
Summary
After dozens of students, parents and community groups urged the board to adopt a youth-driven wellness resolution, the San Francisco Unified School District Board referred the 'Our Healing in Our Hands' resolution to the Budget and Curriculum committees for further review and a second reading.
The San Francisco Unified School District Board on May 14 moved the student‑led 'Our Healing in Our Hands' resolution to committee after extended public testimony urging expanded school‑based mental‑health supports.
Advocates from the Chinese Progressive Association, United Educators of San Francisco and youth leaders told the board the resolution — introduced by Commissioners Lam, Collins and Maliga — would build student governance, peer‑led counseling and culturally responsive wellness centers. "When students become agents of their own healing and well‑being, our entire community grows stronger," said Leila Wu, lead organizer for the Chinese Progressive Association.
The resolution was not voted on tonight; instead the board referred it to the Budget and Curriculum committees and scheduled a second reading before the full board. Superintendent Vincent Matthews and staff confirmed the referral and described the normal committee review and implementation planning the district uses for policy proposals.
Speakers described specific recommendations contained in the youth‑driven report: increasing wellness funding for bilingual social workers, strengthening preventive wellness resources, implementing culturally responsive mental‑health training, and piloting peer‑led wellness coaching. "Many schools do not have on‑site bilingual social workers or counselors who can directly meet mental‑health needs of Chinese students," said Sarah Won, executive director of Community Youth Center of San Francisco, describing gaps in access for multilingual students.
United Educators of San Francisco endorsed the resolution: "We brought the report and a recommendation to our executive board and our delegate assembly, asking for support for this effort," said Susan Solomon, the union president, noting unanimous governance support.
The board's action to refer the item means staff and committees will examine cost, staffing and implementation steps; proponents asked the board to elevate student leadership in any plan. The item will return to the full board for a second reading following committee review.
