ND SB2149

Each school district must provide a minimum of 8 hours of professional development every two years on youth behavioral health to elementary, middle, and high school teachers and administrators, with ancillary staff encouraged to participate.

Professional development hours must be designated from eight categories based on annual needs assessments: trauma, social and emotional learning, suicide prevention, bullying, understanding behavioral health impacts on family and community systems, behavioral health symptoms and risks, referral sources and evidence-based interventions, and other risk reduction strategies.

Each school within a district shall designate an individual as a behavioral health resource coordinator.

School districts must report professional development hours to the Department of Public Instruction.

The superintendent of public instruction shall maintain contact information for behavioral health resource coordinators in each school and collaborate with regional education associations to disseminate training information and materials.