APA, AACAP Outline Plan for School Reopening That Emphasizes Safety, Optimizes Mental Health

APA and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) on Wednesdayissued recommendations for schools and communities as they move to safely reopen schools in the COVID-19 era. APA members may want to share these recommendations with their local school boards or other government entities.“In these uncertain times, making educational decisions based on science and community circumstances ensures the mental health needs of our children and adolescents are being addressed, allowing them to feel engaged, safe, secure, supported, and loved,” APA and AACAP stated in a news release.The organizations urged schools and communities to keep the following precautions in mind when considering reopening:Public health agencies should base their recommendations on returning students, teachers, and staff to classrooms on scientific evidence and local community circumstances, not politics. APA and AACAP noted that one solution may not be appropriate for all school systems.The return to school must include appropriate protections for all children, families, school personnel, and other members of the community.When in-person classroom education is not possible, schools should prioritize techniques that optimize social interactions among students alongside educational objectives.The education of children with special needs requires additional resources to adapt instructional techniques. This population includes children with emotional, learning, and physical disabilities as w...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: AACAP American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry APA children classrooms COVID-19 education mental health science Source Type: research