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Union Public Schools
Our mission is to graduate 100 percent of our students, college and career ready.

5520 Suicide & Crisis Intervention

Oklahoma Mental Health Laws require school personnel to notify parents/guardians of incidences of mental health crisis of a child. Union Public Schools supports this legislation and has identified the following reporting procedures to ensure the safety of children and to maintain compliance. These procedures are supplemental to the district’s Emergency Procedures Manual and specify the required documentation. Each school site will identify a Crisis Intervention Team.

A.      Any school personnel who has reason to believe, by direct or indirect knowledge, that a student is at-risk for mental health crisis, they must immediately refer the student to the school counselor or administrator for

intervention. The counselor may elicit assistance from another member of the building crisis intervention team to complete the mental health procedures.

B.      In the case of suicidal ideation or self-harm, after the school counselor has met with the student, documented the threat, and the crisis team has conferred the counselor must notify the parent/guardian.

1.       The student may not leave the school grounds until an emergency meeting is held with the parent/guardian.

2.       The parents will be apprised of the seriousness of the situation and be provided a resource list of mental health providers.

3.       The parents will be requested to sign a statement that they have been notified of the situation and of the school’s recommendations.

4.       If the parent refuses to seek an emergency evaluation, the school administrator or designee shall contact the Director of Safety and Security and notify the Department of Human Services of child neglect.

C.       When a report of homicidal threat is made, the administrator will notify the parent/guardian;

1.       The parents will be apprised of the seriousness of the situation and be provided a resource list of mental health providers;

2.       The parents will be requested to sign a statement that they have been notified of the situation and of the school’s recommendations;

3.       If the parent refuses to seek an emergency evaluation, the school administrator or designee shall contact the Director of Safety and Security and notify the Department of Human Services of child neglect.

D.      The school district shall provide training to all staff members in their first year employed by the school district, and then once every fifth academic year, addressing suicide awareness and prevention and the mental health needs of students.

E.       IMMUNITY FROM EMPLOYMENT DISCIPLINE AND CIVIL LIABILITY: Teachers, counselors, principals, administrators and other school personnel shall be immune from employment discipline and any civil liability with respect to the following actions:

1.       Calling 911, law enforcement, or the Department of Human Services if they believe a student poses a threat to themselves or others or if a student has committed or been the victim of a violent act or threat of a violent act;

2.       Providing referral, emergency medical care or other assistance offered in good faith to a student or other youth; or

3.       Communicating information in good faith concerning drug or alcohol abuse or potential safety threat by or to any student to the parents or legal guardians of the student, law enforcement officers or health care providers.

Revised 6/10/96

Revised 12/8/03

Revised 12/14/15

Revised 12/9/19

Revised 12/13/21

Revised 12/12/22

Revised 12/11/23