School-Based Mental Health Specialist
In participating schools, the School-Based Mental Health Specialist helps children, youth, and their families by providing specialized services that improve student functioning in school and create strong connections between home and school. School-Based Mental Health Specialists provide a variety of services for children and their families to develop skills that will allow them to better function in all areas of their lives.
Specialized Services
- Psychosocial Assessments
- Crisis Intervention
- Individual, group and family interventions regarding a variety of issues
- Stress Management
- Anger and conflict management
- Communication Skills
- Social Skills training
- Parenting education and Support
- Case management services including:
- Linking families with community resources and supports, including substance abuse counseling
- Coordinating psychiatric and medical treatment as needed
- Coordinating services with other involved agencies
- Educating and consulting with schools regarding mental health
- Assisting school staff with handling critical incidents that impact students
These goals are attained through the combined efforts of school professionals, School-Based Mental Health Specialists, families and other involved community representatives.
About the Program
Services are individualized and planned collaboratively with school, family, and other involved agencies and community partners. Treatment goals are reviewed by all parties on an ongoing basis, and intervention ends when goals are met. Specialists work with children, youth and their families to improve school functioning in a wide variety of areas (attendance, behavior, academic achievement, etc.) Services are delivered by mental health professionals. Children and youth are referred by school counselors, principals, and special education teachers. The program is available for children and adolescents from preschool through high school in those schools currently under contract to receive services.
