Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Services in Schools and Communities

Despite the growing emphasis on a population-based training and service delivery model for school psychology, few resources exist to provide guidance concerning how such services might be conceptualized and put into place. In this book, the authors propose a public health model for comprehensive children's mental health services that expands, rather than replaces, the traditional model of school psychology. The background and theoretical perspective for this public health model are discussed as an important way to solve problems and accomplish goals in schools, after which the authors outline and develop a clear, practical procedure for implementing and evaluating programs based on public health ideas. A case study in one elementary school walks readers through the stages of applying a public health model, detailing the key steps of each stage. Finally, the authors consider the changes to the role of school psychologist that will be required to practice a public health problem-solving model. Accompanying downloadable resources contain sample forms, handouts, and other valuable materials that will be of use to school psychologists implementing this public health model in their schools.

Robyn S. Hess, PhD, is a Professor and Chair of the Department of School Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado. Rick Jay Short, PhD, is the Dean of the School of Human Sciences and Humanities at University of Houston - Clear Lake. Cynthia E. Hazel, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Child, Family, and School Psychology Program at the University of Denver.

Part I: Introduction to Part I: Reconceptualizing Our Work. Intersection of Public Health, Children's Mental Health and School Psychology. The Continuum of Services with a Public Health Model. Building Capacity through Collaboration and Coalitions. Part II: Introduction to Part II: Public Health Problem-Solving Model. Problem Identification through Applied Epidemiology. Problem Analysis of Risk and Protective Factors. Defining Risk and Protective Factors in Child/Environment Interactions. Ecological Plan Implementation. Monitoring and Evaluation of Outcomes. Part III: Introduction to Part III: From Concept to Action. Case Study in Public Health Problem-Solving. Changing Role of School Psychologists. Sustaining Change in a Public Health Problem-Solving Model.