Report 2019-125 Recommendation 7 Responses
Report 2019-125: Youth Suicide Prevention: Local Educational Agencies Lack the Resources and Policies Necessary to Effectively Address Rising Rates of Youth Suicide and Self‑Harm (Release Date: September 2020)
Recommendation #7 To: Charter Academy of the Redwoods
To ensure that their teachers and staff have the information necessary to respond consistently, promptly, and appropriately to reduce suicide risk, the six LEAs we reviewed should revise their policies by March 2021 to comply with state law and incorporate the best practices in Education's model policy.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2023
The school revised its board policy to include all components required. The staff is trained annually on suicide prevention and intervention.
- Completion Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Redwoods Charter's revised board policy contains several elements that were not present in the policy we reviewed during the audit. For example, the revised board policy describes potential postvention strategies and directs the principal to develop prevention strategies that are specific to at-risk populations. However, the revised board policy does not establish specific policies, requirements, or strategies. Rather, it directs the principal or that individual's designee to develop strategies for addressing various aspects of suicide prevention. Further, the direction to create strategies does not address some elements we identified as missing, including the establishment of a postvention response team and a description of how suicide prevention education will be provided to students. Redwoods Charter did not provide the policy, procedures, or strategies that the principal or designee has created; thus, we cannot determine whether that work product aligns with the requirements and best practices described in the audit. We look forward to reviewing those specific policies, procedures, or strategies after Redwood Charter provides them to us.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2022
The school revised its board policy to include all components required. The staff is trained annually on suicide prevention and intervention.
- Completion Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Although the Charter Academy of the Redwoods has revised its suicide prevention policy in an effort to comply with state law, and it has incorporated some of the best practices from Education's model policy, it still lacks crucial elements. Among other things, the policy does not outline how suicide prevention education will be provided to students; include a provision to share the policy and other information with parents, guardians, and caregivers; or include action plans for in-school and out-of-school suicide attempts.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
1-Year Agency Response
The school revised its board policy to include all components required. The staff is trained annually on suicide prevention and intervention.
- Completion Date: March 2020
- Response Date: September 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
The revised policy that the Charter Academy of the Redwoods provided does not establish specific policies related to suicide prevention. Rather, it directs the principal or designee to develop strategies for addressing various aspects of suicide prevention. The policy describes elements that these strategies may include but does not establish requirements. Further, the direction to create strategies does not address some elements we identified as missing, including the establishment of a postvention response team and a description of how suicide prevention education will be provided to students. We look forward to reviewing specific policies and strategies once Redwoods Charter establishes them.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
6-Month Agency Response
Charter Academy of the Redwoods did not submit a response to this recommendation.
- Estimated Completion Date: unknown
- Response Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken
Charter Academy of the Redwoods did not assert or provide evidence that they have taken any steps to date to revise their policies.
60-Day Agency Response
The LEA will revise the policy to reflect the outlined deficiencies in the report.
- Estimated Completion Date: March 2021
- Response Date: November 2020
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken
Charter Academy of the Redwoods did not assert or provide evidence that they have taken any steps to date to revise their policies.
All Recommendations in 2019-125
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.