PREVENTING MASS VIOLENCE BY INCREASING STUDENT SERVICES IN SCHOOLS

WHEREAS, the evil of mass violence in America is frequently committed by young adults with untreated mental disorders; and

WHEREAS, perpetrators of mass violence often show symptoms of mental and emotional disorders when they are of school age; and

WHEREAS, one way to prevent some incidents of mass violence is to ensure that students showing signs of mental disorders or a fascination with violence can be helped by licensed professionals in schools; and

WHEREAS, school-based interventions could provide counseling and therapy to troubled youths to redirect them before an obsession with violence becomes entrenched; and

WHEREAS, schools can only provide effective services for students at risk for mental disorders or violent outbursts if there are qualified counselors, psychologists and social workers on site; and

WHEREAS, some schools lack the funding to increase staffing in the areas of counseling, psychology and social work; and

WHEREAS, some schools have the financial resources to increase staffing in the areas of counseling, psychology and social work, but lack the sense of urgency to prioritize the well-being and safety of the students, staff and communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, as a public safety imperative for every school district in the state of Illinois, the state government is best positioned to provide the funding necessary to provide support services in all public schools:

RESOLVED, that the AFT shall urge the proposal and passage of legislation that would provide funding for every public school to recruit and retain counselors, psychologists, social workers and other licensed professionals and classified paraprofessionals employed by the district to assist students with mental health concerns; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT shall urge the proposal and passage of legislation that would amend the school code to reduce student-to-staff ratios for counselors, psychologists, and social workers and to amend the school code to make those ratios mandatory, rather than simply recommended; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT shall urge the proposal and passage of legislation that would offer incentives for the attainment of licensure in counseling, psychology and social work at public institutions of higher learning with a minimum of cost to the prospective clinicians, contingent upon employment in public schools; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will assist our locals in advocating for increased staffing and wraparound services for students through collective bargaining and involvement in school board elections.

Adopted May 28, 2025