2 days ago
Lawmakers gather input on behavioral health initiative in Agawam schools
AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) – State lawmakers are getting feedback Tuesday evening on a new behavioral health initiative launched in Agawam Public Schools.
State lawmakers led a discussion in Agawam Tuesday evening, in the fight to improve student mental health.
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There, they solicited feedback on the state's new behavioral health initiative called 'MC-PAP' for schools, which launched a year ago within the Agawam public school system.
'It's hard being a kid these days,' says Senate President Karen E. Spilka. 'And we need as adults to make it easier to provide mental health services as early as possible.' It is meant to connect available resources for each student's individual needs through a systemic approach, improving behavioral health support, using data points from nurse visits to attendance as well as social-emotional screenings to identify students who might otherwise fly under the radar.
Senator John Velis adds, 'Wow, this is sad. A lot is going on with the kids, but also they are raising their hands and talking about it, I don't know if that would have been the case 6,7 years ago.' The program also assesses district-wide mental health strategies and how families are being reached.
'We've made a lot of great gains this year, increasing student access to community providers,' says MCPAP Consultant Jen Brennan. 'Our main goal is to think about a sustainable process that school districts can follow.'
The key takeaway as the first year of the initiative comes to a close. Real progress is possible if schools, families, and the community work together to meet the student where they are. 'It's really about increasing access and increasing it more quickly for kids that need it,' adds Sara Whitcomb, Associate Director of Research and Evaluation for the Boston Children's Neighborhood Partnerships Program.
In addition to this program, Senate President Karen Spilka says they are working on legislation to address cellphone use in the classroom, telling 22News it only adds to the mental health crisis.
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