Comprehensive Children's Mental Health Services in Schools and Communities: A Public Health Problem-Solving Model

Today's schools often lack the means necessary to effectively provide mental health services for all children who will need them during a given school year. A switch to a broader, more comprehensive model of support service delivery in schools from the traditional "one child at a time" approach can help to remedy this issue. In this text, the authors propose a public health model for comprehensive children's mental health services that encompasses, rather than replaces, the traditional model in school psychology. The background and theoretical perspective for this public health model is 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. This text will also address new roles for school psychologists that focus on prevention and promotion. An accompanying CD will contain sample activities, forms, handouts, and other materials that will be of use to school mental health practitioners implementing this public health model in their schools.