AAC Parent Coalition And Our Minds Matter Outline Requests At Board Of Ed Meeting

At the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 1, the Anne Arundel County Parent Coalition (AACPC) and the student-formed initiative Our Minds Matter outlined a set of requests in response to the growing problems of youth mental illness. “Tonight, I stand before you seeking action – immediate, swift and meaningful action,” said Jennifer Sowers, the executive director of AACPC, speaking before the board. “These issue presented to you tonight are life and death.”

Following testimony from two Severna Park High School students, Parker Cross and Megan Moulsdale, who helped organized Our Minds Matter, Sowers, a Pasadena resident, spoke on behalf of the parent coalition and requested the board vote at its next meeting to establish a committee of third-party, licensed mental health professionals who can establish standard operating procedures. Based on the recommendations of these professionals, AACPS will then implement the changes across the county. The scope of the committee will include the following:

• Develop and implement standard reporting procedures to be followed when an AACPS employee suspects any type of mental health concerns for a student.  
• Develop and implement at least two mental health assemblies annually for all middle and high schoolers to address coping mechanisms, how to talk about mental health and suicide and where to find resources.
• Review the current structure, workload and effectiveness of mental health professionals within AACPS. Make recommendations for changes.
• Develop and implement a strict protocol on AACPS responses and resources that are deployed after a suicide occurs.
• Establish four mobile crisis response teams that will be overseen and paid for by the Board of Education. 

This is an ongoing installment of our coverage on mental illness in Anne Arundel County. If you have a perspective you would like to offer, email dylan@severnaparkvoice.com.