School Mental Health Implementation Group
School Mental Health Work Group Charter
Current Situation
Multiple efforts have developed over the years to ensure that needed mental health services are available to students within the scope of educational settings. These services include those targeted to developmental disabilities, severe emotional disturbance and substance abuse; and range from prevention and early intervention to treatment. Most notably these efforts have arisen out of:
- “system of care” legislation SB 1003 enacted 630.097,
- the Governor’s Mental Health Transformation Initiative,
- and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) promotion and implementation of systems change involving three-tiered models of intervention such as School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports, Professional Learning Communities, High schools that Work, and Response to Intervention.
Although this early work is promising, it has not yet been fully realized. The challenge has largely been due to substantial changes in state leadership along with a poor economic climate. Although excellent school mental health programs exist, there is no uniform system across the state and no formalized blueprint for communities to adapt to their local needs.
Desired Outcomes
- All students can access evidence based school mental health services as needed, from prevention and early intervention through treatment.
- A “system of care” is developed in each school district that is guided by a community partnership of schools, mental health providers, parents and other involved stakeholders who have shared responsibility to meet the mental health needs of students.
As it relates to school mental health, the mission of the “system of care” partnership is to:
1) assess local needs;
2) develop and implement strategies to address those needs;
3) continuously monitor and evaluate strategies, making changes when needed;
4) provide ongoing education to the community.
- The commitment that school mental health services are a shared responsibility provided in the most cost effective manner possible while building on the established system of care values:
- Provided within the home, school and community;
- Individualized to meet the unique needs of each student and family;
- Based on student and family strengths and goals;
- Family driven and youth guided;
- Culturally and linguistically competent.
Undesirable Outcomes
Needed mental health services including prevention, intervention and treatment are not available and that this resource vacuum impedes student learning.
Scope
Develop recommendations to integrate and enhance existing school mental health efforts that have been developing over the past number of years utilizing framework from the Comprehensive Child Mental Health Plan; the Missouri Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health and DESE’s state initiatives involving Three Tiered models of intervention, particularly School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports.
Resources
- Comprehensive Child Mental Health Plan http://dmh.mo.gov/diroffice/depdir/childsvcs/Final%20CCMHP.pdf
- DESE’s 3-Tiered Models (most notably Positive Behavioral Supports) www.dese.mo.gov/2tieredmodels/ www.pbismissouri.org
- Missouri Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health
www.dmh.mo.gov/transformation/FINALVERSIONJULY12008.pdf
- The DMH-DESE Guidance Group
