Student mental health issues are affecting this community’s students on an unprecedented scale, and we know that BCS shares our passion for improving supports for students.

We -- the parents, students, educators, school staff, mental health professionals, and community organization representatives of the coalition -- joined together to work on this issue because we recognize the scale, complexity, and urgency of the problem.

Schools can’t and shouldn’t be asked to do this work alone.

Student mental health is foundational to academic and life success. If we don’t address these issues, students, schools and systems will continue to fall short of their full potential.

Despite the challenges, we believe that transformational improvements for students are possible. As a broad, diverse, yet highly focused collaboration, BCMH is well-positioned to do this work.

We exist to shift the conditions that are holding this problem in place.

To reframe the community’s habits of thought around mental health

To ensure that directly impacted stakeholders -- educators, students, and families -- have a voice in the decision-making process

To recommend adjustments to resource flows where needed, understanding that transformational change often requires shifts in how systems allocate money, information, and human capital

To review current policies, procedures and protocols for how well they contribute to student/educator wellness

To highlight activities and efforts that ‘move the needle’ on student mental health

To continually ask questions about/expand our understanding of this issue

We are here to be supportive partners to BCS/other districts in whatever ways that we can, but we established the coalition out of a shared understanding that the status quo is not working for students.

We commit to being trustworthy partners, but know that we may not always agree with BCS decisions (and vice versa). Please understand that we will always advocate for what we believe to be best practices.

We have no magic solutions, but we pledge to offer a fresh perspective, common-sense suggestions, community-driven solutions, and innovative ideas for improving student mental health.