Page 31 - MMP-N-NJ CCN 21st Century School Nurse Leadership Book

IDEA #2: INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - CALMING CLASSROOM

Idea:

Interdisciplinary Teams. Addressing mental and behavioral health issues. Implement
a defined space or classroom where students who are struggling with their feelings,
stresses, anxiety and behaviors can use for respite and develop opportunities to learn self-
management skills. Contributes to awareness of relationship between student health and
learning outcomes. Adds to student-centered care and student self-empowerment.

The Story:

School nurse Morgan recognizes that many students are coming to the school nurse office
and sharing stories and feelings indicative of anxiety, fears, and stressors. In addition,
on occasion, some students are brought to the health office to “decompress” when their
behaviors are disruptive to their own learning and/or those around them. Ultimately,
this means the student is not in the classroom learning environment. Morgan would like
to collaborate with other staff in the school building to create a safe space where students
can be referred that addresses the specific needs of each student.

Objectives:

• Implement a safe space/classroom that facilitates student health and learning.

• Provides opportunity for student to learn and manage behaviors through support staff and learning the
use of self-management tools.
• Promotes screening of mental/behavioral health and referral to appropriate resources when necessary.

• Enhances collaboration between school/district student support services and community support. For
example: health, access to resources, addressing other issues that may be present.

• Develops a small team to man the “calming room” as it begins.
• Develop a needs assessment from information collected as students use the room to further understand
student mental/behavioral health needs and other issues.

• Recommends Mental Health First Aid Training for all school staff.

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