Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide

Free online trainings Free online trainings are available at myflfamilies .com/service-programs/samh/crisis-services /training/bacourses.shtml . Courses Offered • Introduction to the Baker Act • E mergency Medical Conditions and the Baker Act • L aw Enforcement and the Baker Act • L ong Term Care Facilities and the Baker Act • C onsent for Minors • R ights of Persons in Mental Health Facilities • Guardian Advocacy • Suicide Prevention • W hy People Die by Suicide • Trauma Series Best Practice Recommendations The following recommendations are practices to ensure that schools are protecting the safety of students and using the Baker Act appropriately. It is important to remember that it is a last-resort treatment intervention. 1. Conduct a screening The state has implemented a new guideline in Senate Bill 7030 requiring schools to screen potentially suicidal students with the following assessment tools recommended by the FDOE before initiating a Baker Act. See Tools 14a, 14b , and 14c for the recommended assessment instruments. 2. Never leave the student alone At every point during this process, it is critical that the student be under the supervision of a designated school personnel or SMHP. The student should not be released to a parent or guardian before assessing the student’s risk of suicide. 3. The decision should be made as a team The legislation puts the responsibility of initiation on one or two professionals in a school. However, the best decisions are always made by a team. When Baker Act initiations do occur, a team approach allows the process to go more smoothly. For example, while one team member is preparing the student for the process, another team member could be communicating with the parents of the student. 4. Use the Mandated Forms There are separate forms for the law enforcement officer and mental health professional to make clear who initiated the Baker Act at the school. However, it is recommended that both work together to make a collaborative decision, regardless of who fills out the documents. 5. Prepare students for the process Once the decision has been made to initiate the Baker Act, the student should be educated on the process, so the student knows what to expect. It should be made clear that the Baker Act is being used for their own safety and (if applicable) the safety of others. 109