Stop Criminalizing Children

All students require mental health support, especially children who have experienced traumatic experiences. Stop criminalizing children and instead offer restorative practices and mental health support systems in every public school. 

Problem

Roughly 17.1 million people will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder by the age of 18. Since the K-12 education system reaches roughly 55 million children, schools are the best mechanism for mental health interventions and support. Too often, the signs of mental illness are overlooked and children may be referred to law enforcement instead of receiving the necessary aid for them to understand and cope. This is a major component of the school to prison pipeline that disproportionately impacts students with mental and physical disabilities, mental illnesses, and students of color.

Our Plan 

Increase funding for in-school social workers and anti-racism training by defunding school police officers and transferring that funding into more holistic practices.

•  Ensure schools are equipped with resources and are calming learning environments.

  • Remove all police officers from schools. 

  • Remove metal detectors and other criminalizing aspects of schools. 

  • Ensure there are heating and cooling systems in schools. 

  • Whenever possible try to ensure there are windows throughout the building. 

• Increase the numbers of social workers, counselors, and teachers in schools that are trained in trauma-informed care and restorative practices. 

  • Focus on relationship-building and trust exercises. 

  • Offer support to students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.

• Develop alternatives to discipline students that don’t include lost learning 

  • Invest in school-based restorative justice programs.

This Matters

Suicide rates for youth ages 10-24 have increased by 56% in the past twenty years, and given the pandemic and increased emotional stress, that percentage is likely to rise. Mental health has to be the cornerstone of our schools, so young people can lead wholesome and healthy lives.