HOUSE RESOLUTION 11
(By Delegates Statler, Ellington, Toney, Hornbuckle, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), Hamilton, Dittman, McGeehan, Rohrbach, Kelly, and Worrell)
[March 20, 2025; Referred to the Committee on Rules ]
Expressing the West Virginia House of Delegates' support for the Crisis Recovery Network coordinated by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), expressing support for West Virginia's participation in said network, and recognizes the Network as a trusted support for West Virginia schools, districts and postsecondary institutions to know they may call upon if the need arises.
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, Recovery efforts can strain resources that 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;
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, 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; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
The House of Delegates expresses the belief 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 West Virginia House of Delegates supports the SREB Crisis Recovery Support Network. The 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. It will hire a coordinator for the network and cover travel costs for counselors during training and deployment.; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this Resolution to the West Virginia Emergency Management Division.