SPRINGFIELD ─ State Senator Ram Villivalam led a new law that will ensure mental health support for educational staff – tackling the ongoing mental health crisis.
“Everyone deserves access to mental health care – including educational staff,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Education staff need additional support and access to resources to receive the care they deserve. It’s time we step up and break down barriers to access to quality, compassionate mental health care.”
To provide mental health support to education staff, the new law requires each school board to develop a staff mental health support procedure. The procedure is required to include a commitment to supporting employee mental health in the workplace, opportunities to provide feedback on employee mental health, annual communication with information on resources and support available to staff, and opportunities for the school board to receive information regarding employee mental health initiatives and programs.
“Establishing procedures that prioritize educational staff’s mental health is a positive step toward supporting their ability to get the care they need,” said Villivalam.
House Bill 4862 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan 1.
