Adi’s Act is one step toward creating an Oregon in which all students know they can reach out for help when they need it–with confidence that the right help and support will be available. Towards this end, the Alliance’s School Committee has prioritized improving best practices in suicide prevention and response in every Oregon school. Before Adi’s Act passed in 2019, Oregon was one of only three states in the country that did not require schools to have a suicide prevention and intervention plan in place.
Adi’s Act will help address this gap by requiring all school districts in Oregon have a model suicide prevention plan. The plan addresses policy and protocols related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, and address populations at higher risk for youth suicide—like LGBTQ students.
In 2019, members of the Alliance testified in favor of this bill and the Schools Committee is working with the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority by advising on guidance and implementation efforts to help rollout of this bill be successful. See below for different parts of SB 52.
To see the Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for Adi’s Act, go here. The Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) can be found here.
Parts of Adi’s Act
This bill requires each school district to adopt a policy that requires a comprehensive district plan on student suicide prevention for students in grades K – 12.
Procedures
Procedures that relate to suicide prevention, intervention, and activities that reduce risk of suicide attempts and promote healing after a death by suicide.
A procedure that someone can request a school district to review the actions a school takes when responding to suicidal risk.
Staff
Identification of school personnel that are responsible for responding to reports of suicidal risk.
Plans must be written to ensure that school employees only act within their credentials or licenses.
High Risk Youth
Methods to address the needs of groups at a higher risk of suicide attempts. These groups at a higher risk include youth who are grieving a death by suicide; youth with disabilities, mental health diagnoses, or substance use disorders; youth experiencing houselessness or out-of-home settings like foster care; and lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, or other minority gender identities and sexual orientation.
Training
A description and materials for any trainings that will be provided to school employees. These trainings must include: when and how to refer youth and their families to appropriate mental health services; programs that can be completed through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials; and any other requirement that is made by the State Board of Education through rules that have been based on consultations with subject matter expert organizations.
School Resources for Adi’s Act Implementation
Below are some resources that were created for schools to use when creating their SB 52 compliance policies. You can find additional resources by going to this Oregon Health Authority (OHA) website which includes information about ODE’s current mental health-related activities and initiatives such as Adi’s Act (suicide prevention) and the Strengthening Mental Health in Education initiative with OHA, as well as providing many tools and resources for students, families, school staff, and leaders.
Oregon Department of Education Guidance
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) are providing this Draft SB52 Guidance to assist school districts in developing suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention plans. The Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide and additional stakeholders provided input into these guidelines. Under each section of the Draft Guidance, there is information to help districts understand SB 52 requirements, as well as recommendations and resources to assist with the writing of each component of the plan.
Sample Plan from Forest Grove School District
The purpose of this plan is to follow board policy to protect the health and well-being of all
district students by having procedures in place to prevent, assess the risk of, intervene in, and respond to suicide. Forest Grove School District Policy JHH for grades K-12 was adopted on 6/22/20.