School districts fail to provide mental health training under New York SAVE Act

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MID-HUDSON – Three Hudson Valley school districts have been cited for failing to provide mental health training to all staff for the 2020-21 school year by September 15, 2020 as required by State Education Department regulations.

The three districts cited by the State Comptroller’s Office are Goshen Central School District, Dover Union Free School District, and the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District.

In Goshen, one of the 12 recommended components of mental health that educators should know was not included in the district’s training offered to the high school teaching staff; five of the 12 recommended components of mental health that educators should know were not included in the district’s training offered to the teaching staff at the two elementary schools.

District officials also did not maintain documentation to support attendance for trainings and the auditors were unable to determine which staff members participated.

In the Dover district, auditors found the district did not provide mental health training to any staff for the 2020-21 school year by September 15, 2020 as required by the state.

None of the 12 recommended components of mental health that educators should know were included in the district’s training.

In the Coxsackie-Athens school district, officials did not provide mental health training as required to all staff by state law. None of the 34 employees’ record tested showed the training was completed by September as required; and five of the 12 recommended components of mental health that educators should know were not included in the district’s training.

In all three districts, the comptroller’s office said mental health training should be provided to all staff and be ensured that it is completed by September 15, as required.

That training should address recognition of the warning signs, whom to turn to for assistance, and how to access appropriate services.

District officials agreed with the recommendation and indicated they would take corrective action.




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