HR35INTRODUCED
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HR35
46QV3RI-1
By Representatives Baker, Collins, Drummond, Estes
RFD:
First Read: 06-Feb-25
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5 46QV3RI-1 01/31/2025 NG (L)NG 2025-435
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First Read: 06-Feb-25
HR____ EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL
EDUCATION BOARD CRISIS RECOVERY SUPPORT NETWORK.
WHEREAS, after natural disasters like hurricanes,
tornadoes and floods, after school shootings, and in public
emergencies, recovery must be prioritized as a long-term
process, rather than an immediate response only; and
WHEREAS, states, districts, and postsecondary
institutions have focused on crisis prevention and
management but may not have the capacity to provide
sustained support for their students, teachers, communities,
and even their own counselors during the recovery stage; and
WHEREAS, rural districts and institutions in
particular tend to have fewer counselors and limited access
to additional counseling resources; and
WHEREAS, school counselors are often expected to
respond to student needs after tragedy, even as they
themselves grapple with the emotional toll, underscoring the
need for external support for the entire school community;
and
WHEREAS, schools and institutions affected by crisis
may require at least a year of dedicated support to fully
recover; and
WHEREAS, recovery efforts can strain resources that
are already stretched thin, given that a National Center for
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are already stretched thin, given that a National Center for
Education Statistics study showed that less than half of
public schools surveyed believe that their school is able to
provide mental health services to all students in need; and
WHEREAS, recovery is an extended healing process for
students and adults alike, and having additional counselors
come to the aid of a school or institution in extreme need
supports the healing process of all people in the community,
including teachers and counselors at that school; and
WHEREAS, specialized training for counselors is
essential to ensure that they have psychological first aid
training and provide counseling that aligns with the unique
needs of an educational environment; and
WHEREAS, research shows that students who receive
adequate support after a crisis are more likely to succeed
academically, remain in school, and contribute positively to
society; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Regional Education Board
(SREB), with its 75-year history of partnering with states
to improve education, is uniquely equipped to lead this
effort because of its ability to mobilize key education and
policymaking stakeholders at all levels; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That to meet the urgent need for a
coordinated, region-wide effort to provide consistent
long-term counseling capacity that is ready to deploy
immediately after a crisis is managed, the Legislature
supports the SREB Crisis Recovery Support Network; the
Southern Regional Education Board, in close collaboration
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Southern Regional Education Board, in close collaboration
with governors' offices, state education agencies, local
districts, and postsecondary institutions, will complement
existing school and district crisis management efforts by
focusing on long-term healing and psychological resilience
by deploying counselors with specialized training to schools
in extreme need; and will hire a coordinator for the network
and cover travel costs for counselors during training and
deployment.
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