As a result, there are often limited resources left to deliver mental health services, especially if they are not directly aligned with the schools’ academic mission.9 Furthermore, school-based mental health practitioners face multi-level barriers when implementing interventions, including characteristics about the intervention itself (e.g., usability, contextual fit), the individual (e.g., stress and burnout), the team (e.g., turnover), and the school (e.g., funding for sustainability), as well as factors related to the macro-level community (e.g., service fragmentation).11,12 To the extent that students in traditional public schools need mental health services, it will be more difficult to target those students if resources are allocated to universal programs. We found that states vary in their approaches – for example, some state Medicaid programs reported working more closely with local education agencies to help promote school-based behavioral health services (including Alabama, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Vermont). Medicaid covers nearly four in ten children and adolescents nationwide, and provides significant financing for the delivery of behavioral health services through school-based programs. Nearly one in five students attending public schools in the United States utilize school-based mental health services, underscoring how schools can serve as an access point for mental health treatment among youth. Schools and community organizations are expanding activities rooted in evidence to improve access to critical behavioral health interventions, including those focused on parent/caregiver support, early intervention, trauma-informed practices, and youth-driven programs.
Community and collaboration
Mental health is a crucial component to overall health and well-being. Web pages whose development was supported by federal government grants are being reviewed to comply with applicable Executive Orders. Designed to help boost kids’ resilience and well-being, the series covers a wide range of topics, including schoolwork, technology, and difficult situations such as death and grief. This free video series features more than 150 caregivers, kids, and experts talking about some of the most pressing, confusing, and challenging questions that parents face. Families with multiple children whose ages span 0-25 can use both platforms to meet their needs.
New Engagement Series on Linking PBIS with Crisis Prevention, Protection, and Mitigation
One of the strategies to address the persistent youth mental health crisis is school-based educational programming. “We know our youth are facing immense mental health challenges,” said Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake). “This legislation empowers both students and schools with the tools necessary to help identify those challenges and then create a support system to take the necessary steps needed to move forward.” By actively addressing the behavioral health needs of students, schools contribute to creating a positive and supportive learning environment. We partner with schools and districts to support student mental health and well-being by building schools’ capacity to prevent, identify, and address behavioral health concerns. CHDI helps schools and districts implement school mental health plans, strengthen connections to community-based resources, and evaluate their impact over time so that all students can meet their full potential. One factor that supports https://www.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/public_policy/school_based/resources/index.html this ability is collaboration between stakeholders in youth mental health service provision, including parents/caregivers, school staff, other students, and community organizations.
We do this through our online Trauma ScreenTIME Schools Course and through our partnership with the State of Connecticut to bring evidence-based trauma interventions to schools (CBITS and Bounce Back). Our expert team can provide ongoing technical assistance and support to help schools and districts troubleshoot challenges and evaluate successes while implementing their school mental health plans. CONNECT IV helps Connecticut schools and districts assess current school mental health programming, develop and implement custom quality improvement plans, and evaluate their efforts over time.
- However, there is no consensus on whether or not brief school-based interventions are effective at reducing mental health concerns or improving well-being.
- Evaluating and approving (or denying) a child for mental health services through school can take months and require back-and-forth between administrators, staff, and parents, an expensive process for all parties—and one that is inappropriate for youth needing fast action or considerable intervention.
- The design and packaging of the intervention was an often-mentioned factor and was often related to the adaptability of the intervention to the local context.
- For example, in a systematic review of anxiety disorders,60 investigators assessed 12 randomised controlled trials and recorded that the universal programmes had the largest effect sizes compared with selective and indicated programmes.
- In Santa Clara County, the local office of education established 25 wellness centers across its schools and hired 50 new mental health workers, including clinicians and wellness coaches.
Resources for educators and schools, including palm cards, posters, talking points, social posts, activation tips, and more to help youth and young adults before, during, and after a crisis. Through an online tool, schools and districts can rapidly obtain data on how their students, staff, and families are experiencing social-emotional learning, climate, culture, and well-being. Funding is being distributed to all 58 County Offices of Education to help schools successfully implement this program.