By: Shapiro S.R. No. 789
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased
1-3 to recognize the Kiosco School Based Mental Health Clinic which
1-4 was selected as one of the 1995 Best of Texas programs for
1-5 demonstrating true commitment to improving the lives of families
1-6 and children at the local level; and
1-7 WHEREAS, The Kiosco program was developed in the fall of
1-8 1993 because of the concern of two principals, Joy Barnhart and
1-9 Gracie Escobedo, who realized that the traditional ways of
1-10 responding to the mental health needs of students were no longer
1-11 enough to ensure school success; the principals believed that if
1-12 a student's mental health needs were addressed, the student's
1-13 school behavior, grades, and attendance would improve; and
1-14 WHEREAS, The Kiosco Clinic is the first school-based mental
1-15 health clinic in Texas and possibly in the United States; all
1-16 services are free to students and their families; the mission of
1-17 the clinic is to ensure school success for children who are
1-18 experiencing stress in their young lives; and
1-19 WHEREAS, This highly effective program provides early
1-20 intervention for students with discipline problems, failing
1-21 grades, and poor attendance; the clinic realizes the importance
1-22 of collaborations with community agencies to address family
1-23 violence, community violence, crisis intervention, mental illness,
2-1 and substance abuse; and
2-2 WHEREAS, The clinic is open one day and night a week for
2-3 psychiatric evaluations and two additional evenings a week for
2-4 therapeutic interventions; each student who is evaluated by the
2-5 clinic team is given a school treatment plan, academic support,
2-6 and a student/family intervention plan; and
2-7 WHEREAS, The Kiosco Clinic has proved to be very successful
2-8 based on clinical data; the majority of students referred to the
2-9 clinic had no additional referrals to the principal after clinic
2-10 intervention, experienced improved attendance, and passed to the
2-11 next grade level; because of the extraordinary documented success
2-12 of the clinic, the clinic model has been replicated by four
2-13 additional Dallas public school sites; now, therefore, be it
2-14 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-15 74th Legislature, hereby congratulate the Kiosco School Based
2-16 Mental Health Clinic for its selection as one of the 1995 Best
2-17 of Texas programs; and, be it further
2-18 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
2-19 clinic as an expression of the high regard of the Texas Senate.
2-20 ______________________________________
2-21 President of the Senate
2-22 I hereby certify that the above
2-23 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-24 on April 25, 1995.
2-25 ______________________________________
3-1 Secretary of the Senate
3-2 ______________________________________
3-3 Member, Texas Senate