While language of mandated-reporter statutes across the country varies by state, the essence is consistent. As a mandated reporter, a school counselor must make a report if there is suspicion of abuse, neglect, self-harm, or harm to others. One significant difference is to whom the school counselor reports suspicion of abuse, neglect, or harm.

It is vital that school counselors in training understand their state laws(California). Identifying the issue and directing the family to resources are only the first part of the response. Eventually, a student will return to school, and a school counselor plays a vital role in that process. The effects of a crisis, disaster, or trauma can have particular long-term implications for diverse students; therefore, school counselors must be mindful of multicultural considerations in their responses to risk assessment.
Based on the unit readings, the two media resources, and the laws of your state, explain your understanding of suicide risk assessment, trauma identification, and awareness of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse as well as indications of exposure to others’ substance abuse at home.

Identify the assessment strategies used in the video and discuss what additional questions should be asked in a risk assessment for suicide, trauma, or for signs of living in a home where substance abuse occurs.
Identify the level of risk you assigned to Jana, your thoughts on the feedback presented in the media resource Suicide Risk Assessment Response, and the action you would take based on your state law.
Next, examine intervention strategies for connecting a family to community resources, reintegrating a student to school, and collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure a successful transition. Assume the role of the school counselor in this scenario and complete the following:

Outline specific strategies to promote the family’s understanding of and access to community resources.
Discuss strategies to help Jana integrate back into school when she returns from treatment.
Discuss how to collaborate with specific stakeholders in the school who can facilitate a successful transition.
Knowing that crisis or trauma can have specific, lasting implications for diverse people, it is important to consider the aforementioned steps from a multicultural perspective. For the next part, choose an ethnicity other than (Black) and different from the one presented in the video. Then, examine risk assessment from a multicultural perspective, addressing potential long-term effects, identifying potential barriers, and recommending strategies for overcoming them.

Describe in detail how this assessment would differ when assessing the level of risk of a student of color. Be specific in the questions you would ask and the evaluation of the risk level.
Explain how you would work with the family. What challenges or barriers do you anticipate and how would you overcome them?
Examine what specific concerns a school counselor should address regarding the long-term effects of the crisis on someone with this ethnic background.