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The Referral Process Part 1

Each school is different and each has its own protocol for referring students to behavioral health services. You will need to be familiar with the specific process and resources in your school, but let’s take a look at an example of what this referral process might look like:

The first step is to identify the student in distress and determine whether the situation is a crisis.
A crisis situation is one in which you suspect that the student or others may be in immediate danger, such as if you notice acts of violence like self-harm or harming others, or family emergencies, like abuse or neglect. We’ll talk more about those later.

General behavioral concerns, such as disruptive behavior, withdrawal or isolation, truancy, or persistent crying, are considered non-crisis situations. Remember, signs of distress look different across age groups and in each child. Rely on the mental health professionals at your school to make the assessment.

In a non-crisis situation, the next step would be to complete a referral form, which you then give to the school clinician in your building. The school clinician will complete a screening assessment and determine services and next steps.

If there is a crisis, you should contact the first available clinician, who will work with the principal and other administrators to respond immediately. Crisis teams are available to provide support to children and youth both within the school and in the community. Parents or legal guardians of the student should also be made aware of emergency situations.

If you think the student is in danger of harming themselves, do not leave the student alone while you seek help.

Review your school’s crisis plan and speak with an administrator for details about the protocol.

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