Student Mental Health Services

Cache County School District is committed to using research-based programs and practices to assist all K-12 schools in meeting higher academic standards. Expanding our current district’s mental health programs is vital to helping schools carry out their mission to educate all of our students. Further, we believe that it is important for all of our students to feel well both mentally and emotionally. It is to that end that we provide mental health opportunities for all of our students. Our district uses a three-tiered approach to delivering mental health services. 

The Universal Level (Tier 1), is where positive mental health activities occur for all students. These activities may include awards assemblies, after school activities, incentives for positive behavior and academic performance, school pride events, citizenship awards, and conflict resolution skills, to name a few. 

The Targeted Level (Tier 2) interventions apply to those students whose social/emotional needs present barriers to learning. The goal of these interventions is to get the students back into the Universal Level. Targeted interventions may include mentoring, specialized classroom interventions (personalized student behavior plans, a student meeting with the principal, Student Assistance Team recommendations, parent conference for behavior goal-setting, etc.), small-group behavior plans, counseling groups for students, etc.

Intensive Level (Tier 3) interventions are individualized to assist those students with chronic and/or intense behavior problems. Intervention examples include using Student Assistance Team recommendations, problem-solving models, specific student behavior plans, 504 plans (Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973), specific accommodations for the student, Individualized Educational Plans (IEP), plans suggested by the student’s health care provider, school counselor interventions (grades 6-12), school psychologist interventions, etc. Tier 3 interventions may also include directions and recommendations from Bear River Mental Health Services staff who work in close partnership with the district.

The Cache County School District Board of Education has approved a policy for student mental health services. Consequently, each school has developed its own plan in coordination with the district policy and reflects specifically what the school is doing in each of the three tiers. There is also a Student Assistance Team at each school made up of the principal, teachers, special educators, and other support faculty. This team meets with teachers to provide assistance and recommendations for students in Tiers 2 and 3. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend especially the Tier 3 meetings, where they can provide valuable insight into finding interventions for their children.

Each school has a student mental health site representative who is also a classroom teacher, special education teacher, or counselor. These representatives receive district-level training several times a year in such areas as assisting children with mental health needs, Student Assistance Team interventions, and utilizing the assistance of Bear River Mental Health Services and school counselors. These site representatives, in turn, train their faculties. Parents and guardians are invited to call either their school's principal or their school's representative if they have any questions about the student mental health services in their school or how those services might assist their children.