IHAMD
INSTRUCTION  AND  TRAINING  IN
SUICIDE  PREVENTION

School districts shall provide training in suicide awareness and prevention for school guidance counselors, teachers, principals and other school personnel who work with pupils in grades six through twelve (6-12) and may provide training in suicide awareness and prevention for guidance counselors, teachers and principals and other school personnel in kindergarten (K) through fifth (5th) grade.  Each person who is required to obtain training shall complete that training at least once every three (3) years.  The training must include the following:

A.  Training in suicide prevention.

B.  Training to identify the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens.

C.  Appropriate intervention and referral techniques.

The training prescribed above should use training materials that have demonstrated evidence of efficacy, to the extent practicable, and may be provided within the framework of existing in-service training programs offered by the School District or as part of professional development activities.

School personnel, entities or any other persons are not civilly liable for any actions taken in good faith pursuant to this requirement except in cases of gross negligence, willful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.

Student  Identification  Cards

The District shall include at least one (1) of the following on each new identification card issued to a student in grades six (6) through twelve (12).

A.  The telephone number for a national suicide prevention lifeline.

B.  The telephone number for a national network of local crisis centers.

C.  A statement describing how to access a text-based emotional support service.

D.  The telephone number for a local suicide prevention hotline.

The District may include the information described by printing the information on, or by affixing a sticker that contains the information to, the identification cards.

Safe  Storage  of  Firearms

The District shall, at least annually, publish a list of resources for parents, in a visible and easily accessible electronic location, regarding the safe storage of firearms and shall offer educational information to parents regarding the safe storage of firearms where children are present.  Age-appropriate education related to firearm safety shall be provided by a District School Resource Officer (SRO) or retired law enforcement officer, to students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12), at least annually, with notice and  parent or guardian written consent.  This instruction shall not cover topics such as firearms operation, firearm qualification or hunting and shall not employ actual firearms nor any demonstration of use of a firearm.

Student  Surveys

With parent or guardian written informed consent, the District may conduct social/ emotional health and wellness screenings of students subject to the requirements for conducting such surveys pursuant to Arizona law.  Access to the screening tool and its contents must be available to parents upon request. 

It is the intent of the Governing Board that all programs and materials used under this policy are directed to the sole intent of instruction in suicide awareness and prevention.  Any academic curriculum considered for use under this policy must be reviewed and selected under all relevant laws, policies and regulations.

Annual  Reporting  Requirements

By June 30th of each year, the District shall provide the Governing Board a report detailing each of the District’s social emotional learning programs, including but not limited to programs addressing suicide awareness and prevention, threat assessment information and data and information regarding programs designed to educate about drug and alcohol abuse prevention which includes data on student participation and outcomes.

Adopted:  November 14, 2023

LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-117
15-120
15-160
15-341
15-701.01

CROSS REF.:
IKF - Graduation Requirements