School-Based Mental Health Minor
School of Education
Program Snapshot:
Type:
Minor
Format:
On Campus
Program Length:
18 Credits
Jump to Section:
About the Minor
How will pursuing this minor be a valuable opportunity for me?
The field of school-based mental health is growing, and this minor offers a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in schools and communities. School-based mental health providers include school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers.
By adding school-based mental health as your minor, you will have the opportunity to increase awareness of student mental health challenges, deepen your understanding of the critical role mental health plays in education, prepare yourself to advocate for student success, and gain specialized knowledge that will set you apart in fields focused on mental health and student support.
How will the content of this minor enrich and complement my undergraduate degree?
The school-based mental health minor focuses on the mental health needs of school-aged children, complementing psychology, counseling, and education courses. Through this minor, students gain a foundational understanding of childhood and adolescent mental health in the school setting, which is essential for careers working with youth.
Required Courses
Select one course from list below:
COU 300 Introduction to Counseling
EDSP 432 Parent Involvement & Family Engagement
What opportunities will I experience in this course?
Students will have the opportunity to engage in coursework with peers from diverse disciplines including Psychology, Counseling, Education, Deaf Studies, Human Health Services, and more.
Students will meet and observe practicing professionals in counseling, school psychology, and social work.
Students will have the opportunity to enroll in courses year-round in various formats, and scheduled so you can stay on track to graduate.
Graduate and Employment Opportunities
Students who complete the SBMH Minor will be eligible to apply for a paid, school psychology assistant position in PK-12 schools. The coursework aligns with the criteria required of this position.
Students completing the SBMH Minor will have foundational content knowledge in mental health to help them be successful in school psychology, school counseling, and/or school social work graduate programs. Critical shortages exist in each of these disciplines in NV and nationally.
Nevada Legislation
In 2019 the state legislature passed two bills specifically addressing the school-based mental health professions. Senate Bill 89 required that ratios of professionals to students be established for each career field, and Senate Bill 319 outlined the role and scope of practice for school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers. In April 2020 the Nevada State Board of Education passed the recommended ratios for school-based mental health professionals. These ratios follow national best practice and are as follows:
- School Psychologists – 1:500
- School Counselors – 1:250
- School Social Workers – 1:250
As a result, Nevada has identified a need for over a thousand school-based mental health professionals. The ARTERY was created to specifically address this need and to locally grow more school-based mental health providers to proactively work with our students in the school setting.
THE GRANT
Nevada State School of Education has received a $931,688 five-year grant to build career pathways for training school-based mental health professionals. We are focusing particularly on the development of a pathway for individuals to become school psychologists.
Contact Information
Dr. Stephanie Lachman
School-based Mental Health Grant Director
[email protected] | 702-992-2564 | CEB 135
Connect with the School of Education
OFFICE LOCATION
Christenson Education Building
1300 Nevada State Drive
Henderson, NV 89002
CONTACT INFO
Phone: 702.992.2532
Fax: 702.992.2516
Email: [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS
Staff Availability: Mon-Fri, 8-5 PM
Faculty Availability: By appointment
Closed all major holidays