Rutherford County Director of Schools wants to provide students with additional mental health services

Rutherford County Director of Schools James Sullivan wants to change the narrative around mental health in the district to provide additional resources to students who need them.At Tuesday night’s school board work session Sullivan said providing this change doesn’t need to be controversial.“Mental health is something that has become controversial, and I don’t want it to become controversial and so really it just comes down to us providing whatever help we need so our students can learn in our classrooms,” said Sullivan.Sullivan invited the nonprofit Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System to talk with the board about potentially expanding its Project BASIC (Better Attitudes and Skills in Children) program into Rutherford County Schools.Project BASIC is a school-based prevention and early intervention program that promotes mental health in elementary school children.“Our mission is to serve individuals, families, and communities through prevention treatment and recovery services ensuring that health today leads to a better tomorrow,” said organization Director of Grants Amy Jordan.Project BASIC was founded in 1985 by a federal block grant with a focus on prevention and early intervention services in a school-type setting.The program is currently available in 62 counties across the state and it works closely with families to provide children with the support they need.“Over the years, our school systems have seen an increase in at-risk youth and behaviors in schools. One of the things that we would love to do is help support Rutherford County in trying to minimize some of those struggles that we’re seeing, trying to get them before they become the kid that’s struggling in middle school or in high school. We want to do the early intervention and prevention in the elementary school level,” said Project BASIC Technical Assistant Melanie Odell.There are four main ways the program would provide support inside the school system in Rutherford County.The first is a whole classroom support focus, where every K-3 student receives fun activities, early prevention, and early emotional support.The second provides early intervention support and resources for individual students.The third focuses on the teachers and helping them with intervention supports and services, resources, and coaching.The fourth and final is a school-wide focus called the climate enhancement projects. These projects include food drives, helping with clothing drives, and de-escalation rooms for students.“We don’t have the ability to serve some of these things and there are a lot of funds that are available that our General Assembly has put forth for us to be able to use,” said Sullivan.  “We’re not trying to indoctrinate anyone, we’re trying to get our kids (the) support they need in the classroom and our General Assembly has given the availability of districts to get funds and right now we’re not utilizing those funds.”Rutherford County isn't the only Tennessee school district making student mental health a larger priority.  Knox County Schools announced it has received a grant to expand mental health services in the district earlier this month.