REQUESTING THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STUDY THE USE OF SCREENING MEASURES TO IDENTIFY TROUBLED CHILDREN AND PROVIDE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

WHEREAS, the public schools are to be commended for their efforts to identify at-risk children and youth who are emotionally disturbed and to provide appropriate mental health support services, special education classes for such children, as well as special services such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and group and individual psychotherapy; and

WHEREAS, despite the public schools' current efforts to identify troubled children, many schools are likely to overlook emotionally disturbed children who are shy and withdrawn and whose behavior does not call attention to their problems; and

WHEREAS, there are increasing concerns about children and youth whose violent behavior threatens the safety and well-being of other children in our schools; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for professional development for all school personnel from qualified mental health professionals in order to learn how to deal with and refer at-risk or troubled youth to appropriate support programs; and

WHEREAS, the study should also include identification, recent research, screening measures and assessment of appropriate primary and early intervention programs to treat or address severe and chronic problems of troubled children;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state department of public education and the department of health be requested to examine and recommend programs to identify troubled children through screening and assessment measures, to recommend intervention programs to address the problems identified and to develop a plan to train teachers in dealing with and referring troubled youth to appropriate support programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state department of public education and the department of health seek the assistance of mental health professionals, parents, representatives of the developmentally disabled community, teachers and public school counselors and administrators in carrying out this study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state department of public education and the department of health report their findings and recommendations no later than November 1, 1999 to the appropriate interim committees and to the second session of the forty-fourth legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the superintendent of public instruction and the secretary of health.