SPONSOR:

Rep. Longhurst & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Sen. Sturgeon

Reps. Heffernan, K. Johnson, Lynn, Minor-Brown, Osienski; Sens. Gay, Hansen, Mantzavinos, Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 82

REQUESTING DATA ON WHERE DELAWARE SCHOOLS ARE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FULL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DELAWARE SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, with the passage of HB 100 the Delaware General Assembly moved to increase mental health services within Delaware elementary schools to meet the ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the School Social Worker Association of America; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly intends to increase mental health services within Delaware middle schools with HB 300; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly is aware of the lack of qualified social workers, counselors, and psychologists to fill these roles; and

WHEREAS, there is work in progress to increase the rate of qualified social workers, counselors, and psychologists in the state of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, there is insufficient information on the number of social workers, counselors, and psychologists in each school and school district; and

WHEREAS, the members of the General Assembly have an interest in knowing how many of the positions as put forward in HB100 are filled; and

WHEREAS, the members of the General Assembly have an interest in knowing how these positions are funded and paid for; and

WHEREAS, the members of the General Assembly have an interest in knowing if the Department of Education is on the path for full implementation of the ratios established in HB 100.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 151 st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Department of Education is requested to provide a record of the number of social workers, family crisis therapists, counselors, school psychologists, and any other licensed mental health professional for each Delaware elementary school. The record shall indicate if that individual is employed by the district or is a contractual employee. The record shall also include specific information regarding how that position is funded.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to provide a record of the number of social workers, behavioral health consultants, counselors, school psychologists and any other licensed mental health professional for each Delaware middle school. The record shall indicate if that individual is employed by the district or is a contractual employee. The record shall also include specific information regarding how that position is funded.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to provide a record of the number of social workers, counselors, school psychologists and any other licensed mental health professional for each Delaware high school. The record shall indicate if that individual is employed by the district or is a contractual employee. The record shall also include specific information regarding how that position is funded.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to provide information on the current mental health workforce in Delaware schools. Specifically, how many social workers’, counselors’ and school psychologists’ positions are vacant and funded, how many licensed and certified professionals are working in these roles, and how many are licensed and certified but are working outside of their certification area.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to provide information on the current mental health workforce in Delaware schools and how many of the current social workers, counselors, and school psychologists work full time in a single school and how many split their work over multiple schools.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to work with Delaware’s Institutes of Higher Education on information regarding the number of students currently enrolled in degree programs for school counseling, social work, and school psychology.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education must provide any information that is available on steps that are being made to hire qualified social workers, counselors, and school psychologists to meet the ratios established in HB 100.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education must create and maintain an ongoing database of social workers, counselors, and school psychologists that are hired and work within Delaware schools.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the above lists must be provided to the Delaware General Assembly by January 1 st , 2023.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution requests that the Department of Education provide information on the current mental health care workforce within Delaware schools and what progress is being made to meet ratios established in HB 100.