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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 12, 2018 09:37 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rosemary M. Brown |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Mental Health Screening Examinations for Children of School Age |
| Back in 2013, I introduced legislation requiring annual mental health screenings. At that time, the legislation did not move in the legislative process and there were several obstacles. I have decided to re-introduce this legislation as I believe it could play a major role in mental health treatment and violence prevention in our youth. Current law requires that all children of school age in this Commonwealth be administered medical screening examinations, including vision tests, hearing tests, height and weight measurements, tuberculosis tests and dental examinations. The results of these medical screening examinations must be included in the comprehensive health record that the school must maintain for each child. However, there is no requirement that children of school age receive mental health screenings. Mental health screenings can help identify troubled children and increase the likelihood that such children will receive appropriate services. My proposal will require the Department of Education (PDE) and the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with statewide organizations representing physicians, psychologists, social workers and school counselors, to develop age-appropriate mental health screening examinations. The screening examinations developed by PDE and DOH will be administered annually to each child in 2nd through 12th grade by the school physician or by the child’s family physician. The results of the screening examinations must be reported to the child’s parent or guardian, reported to the child’s school, and included in the child’s comprehensive health record maintained by the school. Upon a second flagged mental health screening, based upon the established screening guidelines, parents or guardians would be referred and required to have the child further examined by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. My bill also calls for the State Board of Education to develop any guidelines or standards necessary to implement the new provisions. Thank you for your consideration. |