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Board approves Teen Mental Health First Aid partnership with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Summary
Franklin Pierce Schools approved an agreement to implement Teen Mental Health First Aid in high school health classes, training facilitators (health teacher and counselor) and certifying students through multi-session curricula; the pilot expands district mental-health training and passed unanimously.
The Franklin Pierce Schools Board of Directors unanimously approved an agreement with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to deliver Teen Mental Health First Aid to high school students as part of health curriculum.
Claudia, the presenting staff member, said the program will be offered to students starting in ninth grade and can be embedded into health classes; the model includes trained facilitators at each high school (the health teacher and a counselor) plus a smaller training for about 5–10% of school staff so adults know where to refer students who use the skills. Students who complete the training receive a certification card similar to a CPR card. “We did pilot it last year at Gates, and we are gonna try to get some done this spring,” Claudia said.
Board members asked about scheduling and class time; Claudia said the full training can be delivered as three 90-minute sessions or six 45-minute sessions, which most schools are likely to use. The motion to approve the agreement passed unanimously; staff said logistics and facilitator training will proceed with the health department and the district will implement the program across high schools.
