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If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
Our goal is to provide safe, effective, and accessible mental health services to all students while ensuring families understand their rights and protections.
Before any services begin, we require parent or caregiver consent, and we want families to feel informed about how student information is handled, how services are provided, and what protections are in place.
Consent for Services
Participation in school-based mental health services is voluntary, and consent ensures that families are aware of what services will be provided. Families have the right to ask questions, revise consent, or withdraw consent at any time. Our mental health providers will explain how services work, how sessions are scheduled, and what families can expect in terms of student support. Consent is the foundation for building a safe and trusting relationship between your child, your family, and the school-based mental health team.
Below is a copy of our full Consent and Notice Form for all families receiving services through ESU #3 School Mental Health Services. This form includes:
Consent to school-based mental health services — what services are provided and how your child can participate
Billing, insurance, and grant funding details — how services are funded
Legal notices, including Notice of Privacy Practices — your child's rights under HIPAA and FERPA
Confidentiality information — how student information is protected in the school setting
Additional notices — helpful program information and reminders for families
Families may review, download, or print the full form for reference. If you have questions about any part of the form, please contact your child's therapist or our Program Coordinator, Tessie Beaver.
Privacy and Confidentiality in Our Program
Protecting your child's privacy is a cental part of School Mental Health Services at ESU #3. Because services are provided in the a school setting, student information is protected under federal privacy laws, including FERPA and HIPAA. These laws work together to ensure that your child's information is handled carefully, respectfully, and only shared when necessary.
How Information is Protected
In our program:
Therapy sessions are private and confidential.
Mental health information is shared only when needed to support your child's learning, treatment, or safety.
Records are securely maintained and accessible only to authorized individuals.
For example, if your child is working on coping skills to manage anxiety in class, a therapist may collaborate with a teacher to ensure appropriate classroom support. However, the details of therapy conversations remain confidential.
When Information May Be Shared
There are specific situations where information must be shared, including:
Concerns about safety (risk of harm to self or others)
Suspected abuse or neglect
Legal requirements such as court orders
In these situations, therapists follow legal and ethical guidelines to determine what information must be shared. Families are informed as appropriate, except in circumstances where notifying a parent or caregiver is not permitted.
Your Rights as a Parent or Caregiver
Families have the right to:
Review their child's records
Request corrections to records
Ask questions about how information is used or shared
Receive a copy of our full Notice of Privacy Practice (integrated into our Consent and Notice Form above)
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