Alcohol and suicide prevention protocols implemented in Clay County Schools
Clay County Schools, News February 22, 2021
HAYESVILLE, NC – Clay County Board of Education approved new alcohol prevention curriculum and procedure as well as a suicide protocol during the February meeting.
The state required school districts to adopt and implement both protocols this year. The multifaceted alcohol program ended up being funded by Clay County Alcohol board. It cost $15,428. Centered around alcohol prevention and mental health, Counselor Quincey Rickett developed a four-pronged program for students in k-12. A new curriculum called “Too Good for Drugs and Alcohol” has coursework for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade with additional tools for the older children.
Next, the school purchased DESSA as a universal mental health services screener to assist in evaluating emotional and social health of students.
A set of STEM materials and activities for students to participate in is being developed. Education literature for children and parents is being purchased.
The money granted from the alcohol board may also be recurring to help cover costs in the future.
As for the suicide protocol, Clay County Schools are adopting measures for students and faculty to report any student potentially expressing suicidal thoughts.
Students are asked to inform the closest faculty member if a fellow classmate confides in them that they are contemplating suicide. While reporting to the teacher, the student should try their best to keep the other student within their sight. If it happens outside of school, report it on the See Something app. The school doesn’t want texts or emails.
Once a faculty or staff member is informed, they are asked to supervise the potentially suicidal student and report it to the school screener. If they can’t supervise the student, they should call in another faculty or staff member to assist.
If the school screener is absent, then the building level administrator will call in another school screener.
If both school screeners are out, then the social worker will be brought in and if none of the above are available, the school psychologist will be contacted.
Once the authorized personnel is with the student, they will administer the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale assessment with the child.
Parents will be notified immediately, and the school will provide the family with the proper referral for the situation. They will also work to create a safety plan for the student.
Superintendent Dale Cole said, “I think this is great work and something that NC schools have needed to do for years.”
He relayed his personal story of once being a principal at a high school that had three suicides in three years. While there, the school had to independently develop a protocol for students and teachers to follow.