School Based Mental Health: A Framework For Intervention Hardcover

Debra S. Lean

School-based Mental Health: A Framework for Intervention provides essential steps for integrating community-based personnel and programs into school systems for the provision of mental health services. Based on the current school mental health research and practice landscape, the framework consists of governance structures, funding methods, accountability procedures, system change protocols, multi-tiered systems of support, training guidelines and the implementation process. Comprehensive checklists, templates and examples are included. The framework builds on the School-based Integrated Support Services Model (SISSM), developed in our preceding book, Barriers to Learning: The Case for Integrated School Mental Health Services. A unique component of the framework is the key integration role allocated to school-based district-employed mental health professionals. This innovative framework facilitates the provision of evidence-based mental health interventions that are aligned with school district goals and needs.

1610486439

9781610486439

English

Rowman And Littlefield

07 Feb 2013

160

Debra Lean has over 25 years of experience in child and youth mental health and school psychology. She has been a Chief Psychologist for a large district school board for over 10 years. Dr. Lean has developed innovative school psychology programs, including mental health, autism, and neuropsychology specialty services. She is a member of several national child and youth mental health and school psychology committees. She has made numerous presentations to teachers, parents and mental health professionals in Canada and the United States. Dr. Lean has a particular interest in broadening the role of professional student services personnel, especially in prevention and early identification of mental health problems in students. Vincent Colucci has more than 35 years of professional social work experience in the fields of mental health and education. His current responsibilities include working with students in regular, special and alternative programs at the elementary and high school levels. He counsels students and parents, consults to school personnel, and has been a member of numerous school board committees. He has been a field supervisor of social work students and a community agency board member. Mr. Colucci is a trained restorative justice facilitator. He has made presentations to professional colleagues both in Canada and the United States.

As communities struggle to identify and serve children who are at risk for mental health problems, schools are the logical hub for provision of a range of services from prevention through targeted interventions. In their book, Lean and Colucci provide guides, resources, and tools to make this possible through integrated school-based mental health initiatives. They clearly lay out the processes for governance, assessments, implementation, accountability, and sustaining the collaborative mental health supports needed to ensure that every child and youth is able to learn not only the academic, but also the social-emotional skills that will foster healthy adaptation. Educational systems that follow these evidence-based guidelines will go a long way to address bullying and other school issues by providing prevention and intervention for mental health problems. -- Debra Pepler, Ph.D., C.Psych, Scientific Co-Director, PREVNet, Department of Psychology, York University and The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Debra Lean and Vincent Colucci have provided a useful roadmap for the field to deliver school-based mental health services in their new book entitled School-based mental health: A framework for intervention. This book bridges the gap between two important systems that provide mental health services to children and youth: the school and the mental health system. This book is a must read for school professionals interested in the delivery of comprehensive, evidence-based, multi-tiered mental health services. -- Frank M. Gresham, Ph.D., department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Ph.D., department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana In their book, Barriers to Learning (2010), Lean and Colucci compellingly made the case for integrated mental health services with school-based mental health professionals playing a key role. They now show us just how to achieve that. A detailed framework for providing integrated school mental health services that is based on both research literature and practice is provided, as are clear and comprehensive instructions and examples on its implementation. Implementation of the framework they provide would go far in reducing the critical problem of the current lack of effective mental health services. Children with mental health issues continue to be denied effective services and the consequences are lifelong. This book is not only a 'must read' for all who work with or for children, it is a 'must act on'. -- Katherine Covell, Ph.D., Executive Director: Cape Breton University Children's Rights Centre, Sydney, Nova Scotia Lean and Colucci have given us a master class in thoroughness - thoroughness that is essential for all interagency collaboration. Planning for effective school-based mental health services requires governance and vision at state (or provincial or regional) and district levels and the involvement of pupils, students and parents. This manual shows us in detail how to do it. -- Peter Limbrick, Author of Horizontal Teamwork in a Vertical World: Exploring Interagency Collaboration and People Empowerment, Herefordshire, United Kingdom