Report 2019-125 Recommendation 11 Responses

Report 2019-125: Youth Suicide Prevention: Local Educational Agencies Lack the Resources and Policies Necessary to Effectively Address Rising Rates of Youth Suicide and Self‑Harm (Release Date: September 2020)

Recommendation #11 To: San Francisco Unified School District

To ensure that their teachers and staff have the information necessary to respond consistently, promptly, and appropriately to reduce suicide risk, the six LEAs we reviewed should revise their policies by March 2021 to comply with state law and incorporate the best practices in Education's model policy.

6-Month Agency Response

The amendments to BP 5141.52 related to out of school attempts and a single point of contact to assist sites with suicide prevention procedure and policy were adopted by the Board of Education on December 8, 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

SFUSD has fully implemented the recommendation by revising its policies to comply with state law and incorporate the best practices in Education's model policy. Specifically, SFUSD revised its policy in consultation with community stakeholders. Further, the revised policies included a requirement that the district appoint an individual to serve as a suicide prevention point of contact to assist other staff and an action plan for out-of-school suicide attempts.

60-Day Agency Response

BP 5141.52 was amended to add language to the crisis response plan to specify "including out of school attempts" to make this clear, although the crisis response plan already did apply to those situations. The BP also adds language to appoint a single point of contact in the AR to assist sites with suicide prevention procedure and policy. This amendment went for first reading on October 20, 2020, and is scheduled to go to Rules Committee on November 30, 2020 and for final vote on December 8, 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2019-125

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.