ESC Student Wellness Department Newsletter

November/December 2024

As the year winds down, prioritizing wellness - both mental and physical - becomes more crucial than ever. While the holiday season brings joy and celebration, it also presents unique challenges. For students, balancing academics, relationships, and life stressors can feel especially difficult during the colder months and shorter days. In this edition, we explore strategies for staying healthy in both mind and body, and offer insights on fostering inclusive school environments, even amidst changing legislation. Let's close out the year by focusing on the well-being of every child - and each other.

Ohio House Bill 68: Guiding Schools through Legislative Changes and Student Support

Creating an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for all students, including LGBTQ+ students, is crucial for their overall well-being and academic success. In Ohio, schools can play a key role in fostering a safe and respectful environment for every student. Ohio House Bill 68 (HB 68) introduces new requirements that could affect current school practices.

Schools must seek to balance inclusive practices with state laws and their support of LGBTQ+ students. House Bill 68 is currently in effect, however, the law was challenged by transgender students with support from the ACLU of Ohio. It was subsequently deemed constitutional by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. However, this ruling was appealed to the Tenth District Court of Appeals, and on September 11, 2024, the ACLU of Ohio presented oral arguments as part of an appeal process.

Key HB68 Requirements and Considerations for Schools

1. Ban on Gender Affirming Healthcare for Minors

Prohibition of Medical Treatments: HB 68 prohibits minors from receiving gender-affirming medical treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgeries that facilitate gender transition. Moreover, the bill prohibits mental health professionals from diagnosing or treating a minor with a gender-related condition without prior consent from the student’s legal guardian.
Role of Schools in Compliance: Schools may need to adapt how they handle discussions around gender identity and student health, ensuring that they comply with the law while remaining sensitive to student needs.

2. Participation in School Sports

Biological Sex Requirement for Sports: Students must participate in school athletic teams based on their biological sex assigned at birth, not their gender identity.
Verification of Biological Sex: Schools may need to establish procedures for verifying a student’s biological sex, which could involve requesting official documentation. Schools should handle these processes carefully to ensure compliance while respecting student privacy.

3. Legal Responsibilities for Schools

Policy or Practice Alignment: Schools may need to update their policy or practices to ensure they align with HB 68.
Staff Training and Awareness: School staff may need training to understand the requirements of the law and how it impacts their roles in supporting students and complying with the legislative requirements.

4. Monitoring Legal Developments

Legal Challenges: Schools should stay informed about any legal decisions that may impact compliance with the law.

Read more for Strategies to Maintain Support for All Students.

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Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Month
Veterans Day
National Parental Involvement Day
National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

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Human Rights Month/Day
National Special Education Day
International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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Local Resources
National Resources

Tip from the Field with Coach Maddy Moser

A hot topic this school year (and every school year) is attendance. How do we eliminate barriers that keep students from coming to, and staying in, school? While it is important to look for the low-hanging-fruit solutions we can enact tomorrow, in parallel we must ask ourselves what will benefit students three, five, even ten years from now? One of the answers is School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs).

Data from the Journal of Adolescent Health shows that schools with SBHCs report higher attendance rates over time, especially for students with mental health diagnoses. Additionally, the convenience of healthcare on site increases seat time. Instead of taking a full or half-day off school for well-child visits, students can see a provider on campus. Other barriers like transportation to appointments or caregivers missing work are eliminated. Aside from attendance, schools with SBHCs see higher graduation rates, increased average GPAs, and decreased school disciplinary actions and suspensions. Governor DeWine has promised state dollars to help establish SBHCs across Ohio in the upcoming budget. There has never been a better time to explore how a School-Based Health Center could benefit your district and Ohio’s youth!

The Ohio School-Based Health Alliance (OSBHA) is the only non-partisan, statewide organization created to advance and support the sustainability and expansion of school-based health care to reduce disparities and improve health and education outcomes for Ohio’s students, their families, and communities. The OSBHA strengthens school-based health infrastructure through capacity building, policy transformation, and data tracking and evaluation. The OSBHA will be launching a free SBHC Startup Toolkit within the upcoming year to assist districts and health operators in their foundational stages of exploration and establishment of a school-based health center. For more resources, visit the OSBHA’s website, osbha.com.

To learn about the first steps toward a School-Based Health Center, contact Maddy at oanortheastrc@gmail.com.

Maddy Moser is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio and Project Specialist with the Student Wellness Department at the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio. She also serves as the Northeast Ohio Regional Coordinator for the Ohio School Based Health Alliance (“Ohio Alliance”) and Family Coordinator for the Safe Babies Program.