The bill aims to enhance youth mental health and well-being in Washington schools by increasing the number of school social workers and improving their training and integration into the educational system. It highlights the alarming school refusal rate and the mental health challenges faced by students, emphasizing the need for more school social workers to meet the national recommended ratio. The bill proposes new sections to the law that outline the roles and responsibilities of school social workers, including providing mental health counseling, crisis intervention, and support for individualized education programs. It also mandates collaboration with local mental health agencies and educational institutions to facilitate in-school placements for social work candidates.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to clarify the roles of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, ensuring they can focus on student mental health and support without being burdened by administrative tasks. It introduces provisions for educational service districts to coordinate with local agencies to support the placement of social work associates and graduate students in schools. The Washington Professional Educator Standards Board is tasked with adopting rules to implement these changes, ensuring that the workforce is adequately prepared to address the mental health needs of students effectively.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.410.044, 28A.320.280, 28A.310.235
Substitute Bill: 28A.410.044, 28A.320.280, 28A.310.235