A letter distributed to parents a Beeman Elementary in New Haven, VT indicates a child could attend a friend’s counseling session and group sessions through Counseling Services of Addison County (CSAC) at the school unless the parent expressly says their child is not allowed to do this. Given a child was vaccinated with an experimental vaccine for CV19 at a Vermont school against the parents’ wishes and was not held accountable in Vermont Superior Court, we know this “opt out” system will fail.
Some children and adolescents will be lured into counseling through the special attention they perceive they will receive, and according to 18 V.S.A. § 8350, minors can consent to mental health treatment services without parent knowledge and consent.
The State of Vermont believes it is their responsibility to provide mental health care to your children. No wonder mental health services expenses have gone up at public schools!
Many people and parents think these services are needed. Please be aware of the potential dangers of turning over mental health services to the State via the public school system without parental direction, consent, and oversight.
Have the parents asked for these services for their children to be provided in schools?
Who are the therapists coming into schools to provide services, and have the parents approved for these therapists to work with their children? Public school personnel assume “yes” unless you tell them “no.”
Does it violate HIPAA for the minor receiving mental health treatment at school to invite a friend to their counseling session? What about privacy?
What topics are being discussed between the mental health counselor and the student receiving therapy in which the invited friend will be included?
What topics are being discussed in group sessions?
Who invited Counseling Services of Addison County into the schools to provide broad-spectrum mental health services through group discussions?
Parents, if you think these services are for other people’s kids, I must say again that children and adolescents can be lured into mental health services at school without your knowledge or consent. Note from the letter that, “I will never meet with a student alone if they are not open to CSAC services” puts the minor in charge of providing consent, not the parents.
Be vigilant and ask questions. According to federal law 20 U.S. Code § 1232g – Family educational and privacy rights, you have a right to receive answers. Do not allow the “experts” to dismiss you. Vermont Family Alliance encourages you to act with confidence and courage knowing that you, the parents, are the experts of your own children.
Renee McGuinness
Vermont Family Alliance Policy Analyst