School-Based Mental Health is the provision of therapeutic interventions and prevention for students and their families within the school setting to equip students for academic and social success. It is more than just identifying, diagnosing, and providing therapy for students. Mental health in schools is also about providing programs to promote social-emotional development, preventing mental health and psycho-social problems, enhancing resiliency and coping skills, and working with students with behavioral problems. Learning is impacted by a combination of factors including behavioral, social, emotional, and academic areas of student life. A school-based mental health program enables our school district to provide services in any or all of those areas that may be impacting students affect learning potential.

A School-Based Mental Health program is available for students in grades PreK-12 at Batesville School District. Students are identified for SBMH services through parents, teachers, counselors, or others who are concerned about the social, emotional, or behavioral health of the student. The school guidance counselor serves as the gatekeeper for the referral process.

The Batesville SBMH program contracts with community partners to provide SBMH therapists. Once the referral for SBMH has been made by the school, that referral is forwarded to the appropriate agency and therapist. The agency and therapist will then contact the parent to gather more information and set an appointment for a meeting with the therapist. The contracts and business associate agreements between the school and the agency protect sharing information and serving all referred students. Parents have no out-of-pocket expenses for services, but will be asked to be allowed to bill insurance/Medicaid if available.

"Keeping Young Minds Healthy"

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Amazing Educational Resources | Facebook Page 
• Arkansas School Counselor Association Facebook Page 
• Mental Health Resource Guide
• Mental Health & COVID-19
• National Alliance on Mental Health
• National Association of School Psychologists
• Schools Without Walls - Join Group 
• Self-Care Tips
• SETDA - eLearning Coalition 
• Virtual Calming Room

School psychologists help children and young people succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school. School psychologists work to find the best solution for each student and situation and use different strategies to address student needs and to improve school and district-wide support systems, such as the following:

• Consultation
  • Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems
  • Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior
  • Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community
• Evaluation
  • Evaluate eligibility for special services
  • Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning
  • Determine social-emotional development and mental health status
  • Evaluate learning environments
• Intervention
  • Provide psychological counseling (with appropriate training) to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance
  • Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning
  • Provide training in social skills and anger management
  • Help families and schools manage crises, such as death, illness, or community trauma
• Prevention
  • Design programs for children at risk of failing at school
  • Promote tolerance, understanding, and an appreciation of diversity within the school community
  • Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments
  • Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health
  • Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments
• Research and Planning
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior management programs
  • Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools
  • Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions
  • In Arkansas, school psychologists may be licensed as psychologists or certified as school psychology specialists.

By the National Association of School Psychologists

Every school is assigned a Registered Nurse. Parents/guardians are encouraged to inform the school nurse of any known health conditions a student may have so we can continue to provide the best care and assist with any issues that may arise while at school.

The primary role of the school nurse is to support student learning. School nurses can accomplish this by promoting student and staff health and safety. The school nurse serves as the health professional for the school community. Today’s school nurses provide episodic care, manage chronic conditions, track communicable diseases, promote healthy behaviors, connect children with insurance and health care providers, and handle medical emergencies. They care for students with disabilities and for those who depend on medical devices such as gastrostomy tubes, insulin pumps, and urinary catheters. And they act as a healthcare safety net for all children. 

We need the following information to complete your child's file:

• Copy of a Birth Certificate - It must be an official state-issued birth certificate. Birth certificates from the hospital are not official certificates. You can purchase a birth certificate online at www.vitalchek.com
• Physical - A physical completed within the last two years by a Physician or Nurse Practitioner will be accepted. It may be faxed to the school office.
• Copy of Social Security Card
• Copy of Immunizations (or proof of exemption from the Health Department)

IT IS THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPLY THESE RECORDS
Vaccines are given by the Health Department or by your family physician.

Please fill out the following documents that apply to your student(s) and email/fax/turn them in to your campus nurse.

• Authorization for Self-Carry/Administration of Medication (EN) 
• Contract for Self-Carried Medication (EN) 
• Epinephrine Emergency Administration (EN)
• Glucagon Administration Consent (EN)
• Health History (EN) | Saludable Historia (SP)
• Kindergarten Physical Form (EN) 
• Meal Modification Form (EN) | Comida Modificacion (SP)
• Medication Administration Consent Form (EN)
• Telehealth Consent Request Form (EN/SP)

The Batesville School District, in partnership with White River Health, is happy to announce a Telemedicine program for students and staff to utilize located at each campus.

Services provided will include the treatment of common illnesses and injuries, management of chronic conditions (like asthma), physicals, behavioral/mental health screenings, and referrals to other medical providers as needed. COVID, flu, and strep tests are available with these services. 

We encourage you to take advantage of this convenient way to get quality healthcare at your child’s school. To be seen at one of the campuses, parents or guardians must complete and return a consent packet. Once approved, your child can be seen and treated through Telemedicine with a White River Health Provider. Any student or staff member may enroll. Most insurance is accepted.

Telemedicine is available on campus, students can receive the medical care they need without leaving school and missing valuable class time. This also helps parents avoid missing work or school by taking them to an appointment. 

• Telehealth Consent Form Request
• Telehealth at BSD video
• Telemedicine Announcement

Students are required to remain out of school for 24 hours without medicine for those who have a fever (above 100 degrees), vomiting, diarrhea, or any symptoms of a contagious disease. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school nurse.

Students who become ill or injured at school will be given appropriate care. If the school nurse and/or administrator deems it necessary to send a student home, the parent/guardian will be notified. Every parent/guardian must provide the school with working telephone numbers and emergency contacts. 

All students with special healthcare needs, including chronically ill, medically fragile, and technology-dependent students, must have an individualized healthcare plan (IHP) on file at the school. The IHP must be signed by the student’s physician, nurse practitioner, school nurse, and parent/guardian.

• Students with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or seizures must have an emergency “Action Plan” written and signed by the student’s physician or nurse practitioner.
• A student requiring dietary restrictions or substitutions is required to have a “meal modification form” signed by the student’s physician or nurse practitioner every year. 

If a student requires medication to be administered during the school day, please make contact with the school nurse. 

• A medication release form must be completed every year and when any adjustments to the medication are made. 
• Medications, including those for self-administration, must be in the original container and be properly labeled with the student’s name, the ordering provider’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage, frequency, and instructions for the administration of the drug (including time). 
• Over-the-counter medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc.) are not allowed without a medication release form on file and the medication must be provided by the parents. We do not keep “stock” medications for everyday use. 
• Students are not permitted to bring medication to school unless prior authorization from the school nurse has been obtained. The parent/guardian must sign the medication in with the nurse.