Box 2
Example of School-Based Mental Health Program
- Program: Dallas School-based Youth and Family Centers
- Goal: To establish the first comprehensive school-based program in mental health care in the 12th largest school system in the Nation. The program overcomes stigma and inadequate access to care.
- Features: Integrates physical and mental health care at nine locations. The mental health component features partnerships with parents and family, treatment (typically 6 sessions), and follow-up with teachers. Trains school nurses, counselors, and principals to identify problems and make changes in the classroom tailored to each child's needs. Annually serves 3,000 mostly poor, Hispanic, and African American children and families.
- Outcomes: Improvements in attendance, discipline referrals, and teacher evaluation of child performance (Jennings et al., 2000). Preliminary evidence reveals improvement in children's standardized test scores in relation to national and local norms.
- Biggest Challenge: To sustain financial and organizational support of collaborative partners in spite of resistance to change or jurisdictional barriers. Program's $3.5 million funding comes from the school district and an additional $1.5 million from Parkland Hospital.
- How Other Organizations Can Adopt: Recognize the importance of children's mental health for school success. Rethink how state and Federal funding streams can be more efficiently partnered and utilized by school systems to deliver these services.
- Contact Point: Jenni Jennings, Dallas Independent School District
- Sites: Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas
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