If you are having thoughts of suicide, need mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else call call988.
Process:
If a student presents with concerns regarding suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (i.e. cutting), and/or threats to others they are screened by a staff member.
After screening, the parent/guardian is notified regarding the results.
If the screening results are not of imminent concern, the student returns to class and resumes their day.
If the screening results are of imminent concern, the student is picked up by the caretaker to obtain psychiatric / medical clearance. If a parent/guardian refuses to take their child for clearance the District is obligated to contact the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in accordance with Board Policy2111and 5350.
Franklin Lakes Public Schools treats mental health emergencies as medical emergencies and recommends families take their child to Valley Hospital, the nearest emergency room. Discharge paperwork from Valley Hospital is required to return to school. The district pays for the balance of the Valley Hospital evaluation if it is not fully covered by the parent's/guardian’s insurance. Families may submit the Explanation of Benefits from their insurance company to the Department of Special Services to issue payment for any remaining balance pertaining to the clearance.
Families may opt to take their child to a different mental health professional but the family is then fully responsible for the cost of the visit. If taken to a provider other than Valley Hospital,a separate clearance formis required to be completed by the treating psychiatrist / mental health professional.
After receiving psychiatric / medical clearance, the family contacts district staff to schedule a re-entry meeting. The family is responsible for transporting their child to the re-entry meeting. The student is not permitted to use district transportation until they have been cleared and a re-entry meeting conducted.