§ 10-222u — State-wide social-emotional support strategy.

(a) The Social Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative, established pursuant to section 10-222q, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Office of Early Childhood and the Department of Public Health, shall design a state-wide social-emotional support strategy to provide support and assistance to local and regional boards of education for mental health, social-emotional support, behavioral support, trauma support and special education programs and services. The strategy shall include, but need not be limited to, recommendations regarding (1) training and recruiting mental health and social-emotional support staff and deploying them to school districts, (2) resources for school districts for the hiring of mental health and social-emotional support staff, (3) assisting boards in the development and implementation of comprehensive school counseling programs, in accordance with the guidelines adopted pursuant to section 10-203c, (4) building on existing school and community collaborations that support student mental health and well-being, such as community school models, family resource centers, health clinics, child care that is available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and year-round use of school facilities, (5) developing or enhancing state, regional and local support networks for mental health and trauma support services through interagency agreements, local action plans and model programs, (6) improving the knowledge and skill of educators and other school personnel in order to develop social-emotional learning and restorative practices competencies and capacities, (7) creating opportunities for educators to collaborate, share support and problem solve through team planning time and professional learning communities, (8) providing resources for state-wide and local efforts to engage parents and families to support the development of student social and emotional growth at home and in the community, and (9) providing opportunities for families to discuss topics relating to social-emotional learning, restorative practices, resiliency and ways to ensure racial equity in schools. (b) The collaborative may consult with the national Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning to implement the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

(P.A. 21-95, S. 5.) History: P.A. 21-95 effective July 1, 2021.