Title
Presentation by the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) on AUSD’s Mental Health Needs Assessment. (Base Reuse/Economic Development 256)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Amy Wooldridge, Interim City Manager
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) recently completed a comprehensive assessment of the district’s health and wellness needs, systems, and supports. The purpose of the assessment was to identify student behavioral and mental health needs; inventory existing school and community-based services; and develop recommendations to create a coordinated and integrated behavioral health service system that is more accessible to all students. This presentation provides an overview of AUSD’s mental health needs assessment.
BACKGROUND
In the winter of 2018, the AUSD Student Services Department conducted a Mental and Emotional Wellness Needs Assessment survey of AUSD students, families, and staff. The goal of the survey was to identify student behavioral health needs, inventory existing school and community-based services, and create a more coordinated, integrated, and accessible behavioral health service system for all students.
Key needs identified from the survey include:
• Additional behavioral health staff, services, and partnerships
• More clarity and collaboration about roles and responsibilities of behavioral health staff and supporters
• Improved engagement of parents/guardians and key partners in student mental and behavioral health efforts
• Continued training on social-emotional learning, bias, and cultural responsiveness
DISCUSSION
On September 27, 2018, the Alameda Collaboration for Children, Youth and their Families (ACCYF) held a retreat to clarify its direction over the next five years. ACCYF members include the City of Alameda (City), AUSD, Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan’s Office, local non-profit organizations, and interested individuals. Through a pre-retreat survey of its membership and discussion at the retreat, the ACCYF identified mental health of the City’s youth as a major priority to advance ACCYF’s mission to promote positive child and youth development through building community partnerships, sharing information, and maximizing resources.
As a first step in developing an action plan, the ACCYF heard presentations by AUSD on its recently completed health and wellness needs assessment at ACCYF’s November 15, 2018 and February 28, 2019 meetings. The purpose of the assessment was to get an overview of AUSD’s health and wellness supports; identify student behavioral and mental health needs; inventory existing school and community-based services; and develop recommendations to create a coordinated and integrated behavioral health service system that is more accessible to all students.
Following the presentations, the ACCYF discussed the need to destigmatize mental illness and find ways to promote the mental health and wellness of students and their families through a public awareness campaign that has a consistent message. Supervisor Chan coordinated a meeting on April 4, 2019 with an ACCYF workgroup and a consultant to discuss messaging strategies around raising mental health awareness and destigmatizing mental illness for youth and families in the City.
AUSD made a presentation on its needs assessment to the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) at its January 24, 2019 meeting. SSHRB members stated that a larger conversation needs to take place with the entire community. The SSHRB recommended that AUSD present its report to the City Council, so that Councilmembers can determine the City’s role, if any, in addressing the issue.
Tonight’s presentation by representatives from AUSD will present the key findings from the Alameda Unified Mental Health Needs Assessment. The AUSD presentation is attached as Exhibit 1; the full report can be found on the AUSD website at <https://alamedausd-ca.schoolloop.com/mentalhealth>
FINANACIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact related to the presentation of this item. This is for information only.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The presentation by AUSD regarding youth mental health issues is part of an initiative of AUSD and the ACCYF.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. This action is not a project under Public Resources Code section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
RECOMMENDATION
The presentation by AUSD is for informational purposes only.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Director of Base Reuse and Community Development
By,
Eric Fonstein, Development Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director