SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares the following:(a) Approximately one in five youth in the United States have a mental health need, yet the vast majority will not receive the care, services, and supports they need.
(b) Exposure to trauma and chronic stress can derail healthy development and appropriate learning.
(c) Students who face unmet mental health needs are more likely to disengage from learning, miss school, be disruptive in school, and face disciplinary responses.
(d) Unmet mental health needs are associated with failure to graduate from high school and failure to progress to higher education.
(e) Youth who experience serious and persistent mental health needs without appropriate services and support are at increased risk of homelessness, unemployment, and criminal justice involvement later in life.
(f) Self-harm and suicidal thoughts and attempts also are associated with unmet mental health needs.
(g) Students at highest risk for self-harm and suicide include LGBTQ students, foster youth, and students of color, particularly Native American students.
(h) Research indicates that toxic stress, generally thought of as frequent and persistent biological responses to adversity, can influence brain development and increase the risk of mental illness and associated challenges during childhood and later in life.
(i) Bullying and other threats to the safety of students in the school environment undermine opportunities to support educational and well-being outcomes.
(j) Mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention can reduce risks, support the healthy development and well-being of children and youth, and support overall mental health.
(k) Schools often are a trusted resource for students and their families who need services and supports.
(l) Research indicates that positive school culture, high levels of student engagement and support, and students feelings of belonging can reduce school bullying, discipline, and the potential for school violence.
(m) A number of California counties, including Los Angeles, Glenn, Orange, and others, have developed collaborative strategies that bring together mental health, education, and public safety approaches to support safe and supportive school environments, effective mental health interventions, and educational goals.
(n) California has not developed consistent approaches to supporting school mental health and educational outcomes that are based on the root causes of challenges that affect educational outcomes, that are efficient and effective, culturally competent, and tailored to the diverse populations, geographies, and needs of our students and school environments.