Mental Health Training Component of the New York SAVE Act (2022-MS-1)

Issued Date

June 08, 2022

Audit Objective

Determine whether the school districts (Districts) used resources to provide the mental health component of the New York Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act (SAVE Act) training requirement to staff.

Key Findings

The 20 Districts we examined did not provide mental health training to all staff for the 2020-21 school year by September 15, 2020, as required by New York State Education Department (SED) regulations.

In addition, trainings offered by the Districts lacked sufficient content to ensure that staff were, at a minimum, trained on recommended mental health components such as the 10 mental health warning signs, or “whom to turn to” and “how to access crisis support and services.”

Six of 20 Districts (30 percent) either did not offer training or offered training that did not include any of the 12 recommended mental health components.
Fourteen of 20 Districts (70 percent) included at least one of the 12 recommended mental health components.

Key Recommendation

Provide mental health training to all staff and ensure it is completed by September 15, as required by SED regulations. Such training should address recognition of the 10 warning signs, whom to turn to for assistance, and how to access appropriate services.

Background

The SAVE Act was introduced to help improve school safety and it requires school districts to develop a comprehensive district-wide school safety plan (safety plan) that addresses crisis intervention, emergency responses and management. The safety plan developed by each district must include, among other things, policies and procedures for annual school safety training for staff and students.

Generally, district officials are required to provide the school safety training, including a component on mental health to all staff annually by September 15.

School districts must also certify to the SED Commissioner that all staff have undergone the school safety training, which must include a component on mental health¹and the date the training was provided.

This global report details significant mental health training issues we identified.

Audit Period

July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. As described in Appendix C, for certain training material review we extended the audit period.

1 8 NYCRR Section 155.17[c][1][xiii]