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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 133
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Children
and Family Services, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
to study jointly the feasibility of coordinating state mental health and counseling
resources for the purpose of providing supports to public school students and to
submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House Committee
on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, the House
Committee on Education, and the Senate Committee on Education not later than
sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2014 Regular Session of the Legislature of
Louisiana.
WHEREAS, it is the aim of the Department of Health and Hospitals to protect and
promote health and to ensure access to medical preventative and rehabilitative services for
all citizens; and
WHEREAS, the vision of the Department of Children and Family Services includes
keeping children safe and providing a safe refuge during disaster; and
WHEREAS, as stated in the Constitution of Louisiana, it is the goal of the public
education system to provide learning environments and experiences at all stages of human
development that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Children
and Family Services, and the state Department of Education have demonstrated the value of
coordinating services across the state through the implementation of such programs as the
Coordinated System of Care; and
WHEREAS, each of these agencies has resources and programs designed to assist
children, families, and communities in meeting mental health and counseling needs, yet each
operates independently; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, there is a great need for mental health and counseling services in public
schools after accidents, acts of nature, and crisis situations; and
WHEREAS, coordination of available mental health and counseling services across
state agencies to supplement school-based services could significantly increase supports
available to Louisiana school children; and
WHEREAS, opportunities for aligning specific state mental health and counseling
resources with the needs of public school students must be explored fully; and
WHEREAS, in order to fulfill the state's constitutional duty of affording every
student an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential, it is imperative that mental
health and counseling resources available for public school students receive a thorough and
collaborative evaluation so that determinations can be made as to how the state can best
provide experiences and opportunities to students that help them succeed in all aspects of
life.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Children and
Family Services, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study
jointly the feasibility of coordinating state mental health and counseling resources for the
purpose of providing supports to public school students and to submit a written report of
findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate
Committee on Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Education, and the Senate
Committee on Education not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2014 Regular
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such report shall include but not be limited to
the following elements:
(1) Identification of the resources that the Department of Health and Hospitals, the
Department of Children and Family Services, and the state Department of Education offer
across the state that could serve to meet the mental health and counseling needs of public
school students.
(2) Recommendations relative to opportunities for aligning available state mental
health and counseling resources with student needs. ENROLLEDHCR NO. 133
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(3) Recommendations, if any, relative to legislation necessary to remove obstacles
currently preventing agency collaboration and the utilization of available resources to
supplement the mental health and counseling supports being provided to public school
students.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the secretary of the Department
of Children and Family Services, the president of the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education, and the state superintendent of education.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE