Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0091 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
3	3
4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 91
5	5	By White
6	6
7	7
8	8	HJR0091
9	9	002587
10	10	- 1 -
11	11
12	12	A RESOLUTION expressing support for the Crisis Recovery
13	13	Network coordinated by the Southern Regional
14	14	Education Board and the participation of the
15	15	State of Tennessee, recognizing the Network as
16	16	a trusted support for Tennessee schools,
17	17	districts, and postsecondary institutions to call
18	18	upon if the need arises.
19	19
20	20	WHEREAS, after natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods and after
21	21	school shootings and in public emergencies, recovery must be prioritized as a long-term
22	22	process, rather than an immediate response only; and
23	23	WHEREAS, states, districts, and postsecondary institutions have focused on crisis
24	24	prevention and management, but may not have the capacity to provide sustained support for
25	25	their students, teachers, communities, and even their own counselors during the recovery stage;
26	26	and
27	27	WHEREAS, rural districts and institutions in particular tend to have fewer counselors and
28	28	limited access to additional counseling resources; and
29	29	WHEREAS, school counselors are often expected to respond to student needs after
30	30	tragedy, even as they themselves grapple with the emotional toll, underscoring the need for
31	31	external support for the entire school community; and
32	32	WHEREAS, schools and institutions affected by crisis may require at least a year of
33	33	dedicated support to fully recover; and
34	34	WHEREAS, recovery efforts can strain resources that are already stretched thin, given
35	35	that a National Center for Education Statistics study showed that less than half of public schools
36	36	surveyed believe that their school is able to provide mental health services to all students in
37	37	need; and
38	38
39	39
40	40	- 2 - 002587
41	41
42	42	WHEREAS, recovery is an extended healing process for students and adults alike, and
43	43	having additional counselors come to the aid of a school or institution in extreme need supports
44	44	the healing process of all people in the community, including teachers and counselors at that
45	45	school; and
46	46	WHEREAS, specialized training for counselors is essential to ensure that they have
47	47	psychological first aid training and provide counseling that aligns with the unique needs of an
48	48	educational environment; and
49	49	WHEREAS, research shows that students who receive adequate support after a crisis
50	50	are more likely to succeed academically, remain in school, and contribute positively to society;
51	51	and
52	52	WHEREAS, the Southern Regional Education Board, with its seventy-five-year history of
53	53	partnering with states to improve education, is uniquely equipped to lead this effort because of
54	54	its ability to mobilize key education and policymaking stakeholders at all levels; now, therefore,
55	55	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
56	56	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
57	57	CONCURRING, that to meet the urgent need for a coordinated, region-wide effort to provide
58	58	consistent long-term counseling capacity that is ready to deploy immediately after a crisis is
59	59	managed, we support the SREB Crisis Recovery Support Network.
60	60	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we recognize that the Southern Regional Education
61	61	Board, in close collaboration with governors' offices, state education agencies, local districts,
62	62	and postsecondary institutions, will complement existing school and district crisis management
63	63	efforts by focusing on long-term healing and psychological resilience and by deploying
64	64	counselors with specialized training to schools in extreme need.