JS- Suicide Prevention Policy

Descriptor Code: JS
Suicide Prevention Policy

The Cherokee County Board of Education recognizes the importance of the health and behavioral well-being of students and staff and acknowledges that Georgia Law and authority, including but not limited to the “Jason Flatt Act – Georgia,” requires annual suicide prevention education training for all certificated School District personnel via Georgia Department of Education approved materials. Therefore, the School District will provide to all certificated personnel annual training in suicide awareness and prevention in accordance with state law and rules established by the Georgia Department of Education.

The Superintendent or designee has developed procedures to address suicide prevention efforts, intervention and postvention. These procedures have been developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school employed mental health professionals and suicide prevention experts. In accordance with state law, no person will have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of this policy or its implementing procedures or resulting from any training, or lack thereof, required by state law or this policy.

The training, or lack thereof, required by the provisions of state law will not be construed to impose any specific duty of care. Neither the training nor the procedures are designed to impose ministerial duties, but to provide a framework in which educators can exercise their professional judgment in the best interest of students and staff.

ADOPTED: July 19, 2018