college of education

College of Education

Helping Schools Evaluate Needs and Select Best Practices in Childhood

Mental Health

Agenda

Overview of Research Initial Findings Next Steps Conclusions

Research to Practice Gap

There are a host of evidence-based practices to support the behavioral, social, and emotional health of children.

However, there is a huge gap between what we know works and what is actually used in practice.

What we know:

We have effective prevention and early school-based mental health programs available.

However, schools are inundated with innovation.

Efforts to identify and implement best practices in mental health programming and services are complicated by constantly evolving initiatives, strategies, and delivery systems.

Fewer than 30% of schools implement evidence-based programs (Ringwalt et al., 2002).

Bridging the Gap

School districts would benefit from guidelines for identifying areas of need, best practices, and a criteria for selecting the best programs.

Researchers would benefit from understanding the complexities of adoption and implementation of programs in schools.

Goals of this Research

Identify areas of need for training & MH programs

Identify barriers to implementation of MH programs

Understand how schools adopt programs and what factors influence this adoption

Work with schools toward developing a web-based tool to support schools in adopting effective practices, monitoring fidelity of implementation, and evaluate outcomes.

Step 1: Survey

Purpose: Identify most challenging MH problems Identify training needs Identify perceived intervention needs Identify barriers to implementation Assess knowledge of Evidence-based

Practices/Interventions Participants

5 Districts 27 schools 388 school personnel Grades PreK-5

Most Concerning MH Issues

1. Behavior Issues (Defiance, Disruptive Behavior, Aggression)

2. Inattention & Hyperactivity3. Family Issues4. Depression5. Bullying 

Top Training Needs

Two-thirds of participants did not think they had the knowledge or skills necessary to help with students’ mental health issues.

1) Strategies for dealing with behavior problems and implementing behavior intervention plans

2) Classroom management 3) Recognizing students’ mental health

problems and knowing how to help 4) Increasing multicultural knowledge

for working with diverse students5) Engaging and working with families 

Perceived “Cracks” & Barriers

1. Lack of adequate parent support programs

2. Lack of prevention programs for students with externalizing behavior problems

3. Lack of prevention programs for students with internalizing behavior problems

1. Lack of MH professional in schools

2. Difficulty obtaining parental consent/support

3. Lack of training in dealing with MH issues of students

4. Lack of funding for school-based mental health services

Cracks in Services Barriers to Providing Services

Implementing Effective Practices

89% of participants felt that schools should address the mental health needs of children.

When school personnel were asked about selecting and implementing appropriate interventions: Only 27% reported they had

adequate knowledge or training Only 28% reported having

adequate resources

Evidence-based Programs

Research to Practice Gap:

77% of participants reported that they have not heard of the term “evidence-based”

Effective practices and programs are called “evidence-based”, meaning they have been empirically evaluated and proven effective for obtaining the desired outcomes for children, schools and families.

When provided a list of evidence-based programs between 79-91% of participants had never heard of the program.

Resources

If you would like your district to participate in the survey:

Fill out the form provided

Or

Contact Wendy Reinke via email

reinkew@missouri.edu

Each participating district will receive individualized feedback and a tailored resource guide.

Additionally, the districts can request additional consultation.

Resources to Identify Evidence-based Interventions:

What Works Clearinghouse: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Model Program Guide: http://www2.dsgonline.com/mpg/search.aspx

Blueprint’s for Violence Prevention: http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/infohouse/databases.html

Next Steps

Conduct focus groups with key personnel involved in selection of school-based interventions

Use the information to develop a web-based tool that will guide schools in assessing needs, making effective choices, and evaluating outcomes

Focus GroupsHelp Schools Identify Effective Practices

Getting Involved

Opportunities to Participate: Survey Focus Groups

Complete the form provided and return today.

Email Reinkew@missouri.edu

Provide Questions you think need answered about adoption of MH interventions in schools.

Conclusion

The major emotional and behavior problems of childhood are both: Burdensome and PREVENTABLE!!!

Reducing the population prevalence will require: Widespread adoption and use of practices known to

inoculate children against these conditions that are: User- and system-friendly Alter environments and systems

Competent personnel to disseminate these practices Effective policies that support these practices and

personnel

The Big Ideas

More Info

Webpage & Contact Info

Missouri Prevention Center http://education.missouri.edu/orgs/prevention/ prevention@missouri.edu

Wendy Reinke reinkew@missouri.edu

Keith Herman hermanke@missouri.edu

Melissa Stormont stsormontm@missouri.edu