School-based Providers – Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health

SCHOOL - BASED CONSULTATION

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

School-based therapists are in schools to help with the emotional and behavioral needs of students, parents, teachers and the community. School-based treatment and consultation has been in existence for more than 20 years in Stark County and is a convenient option for many families.

Good mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social-emotional and mental health support perform better academically. School-based therapists are on-site and are able to help a student or teacher immediately, especially a student dealing with anxiety or strong emotions. Students who are struggling with emotional or behavioral issues are often affected academically and socially.

HOW ARE SCHOOL-BASED REFERRALS MADE?

School-based clinicians establish relationships with their school through CARE teams. CARE teams typically include multiple school personnel (a teacher from each grade level, the principal, guidance counselor and C&A therapists). In these CARE team meetings, students are often identified as kids to monitor for behavioral and emotional issues. If anyone on the CARE team feels consultation services are warranted, a phone call will be made home to the parent or legal guardian. If the family is open to consultation, and the parent gives consent and signs necessary paperwork, a student may be seen during the school day for up to 180 minutes during the school year.

School-based consultative services as well as treatment are a more feasible option for some families for multiple reasons. Those reasons include the child is getting help during the school day; a more convenient time for families versus an evening appointment; therapists are there in the moment of the crisis situation and can provide immediate help; and they provide a safety-net for students to speak with someone. Students receiving services are from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds.

Part of school-based therapy is being as discreet as possible and protecting the privacy of the student/family. A provider’s communication is important between the school, family and student in regards to how a student is discretely released for a school therapy session.

CRITERIA

C&A’s school-based consultation services include a behavioral health screening and referral, crisis intervention, student social/emotional skill development and behavioral health and wellness education, community linkage and referrals, parent/guardian engagement/education, CARE team meetings and collaboration with school staff. When indicated, with parental consent, students may receive formal diagnostic and treatment services, provided at the school, by a school-based therapist.

Students are referred to counseling by school staff and CARE teams to screen for mental health or substance issues
Parents are asked to be engaged in the process
C&A will assist with linking families to community resources as needed.
C&A’s therapists collaborate closely with school staff to enhance a supportive social/ emotional school environment.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
SCREENING AND REFERRAL

CRISIS
INTERVENTION

PARENT/GUARDIAN ENGAGEMENT EDUCATION

Students and family members are referred by school staff and/or CARE team (with permission from the parent/guardian) to screen for possible mental health or substance abuse issues and provide information and connection to appropriate treatment options.

Therapists can assess for risk factors and then address imminent issues that necessitates behavioral health intervention and referrals such as recent exposure to a traumatic event, suicidal ideation, self-harm behaviors, and aggressive/violent behaviors.

Our therapists give parents strategies, support and education resources to strengthen family interactions. Our therapists help reduce stigma related to behavioral health services.

COORDINATION AND
EDUCATION

SKILL BUILDING

SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WE SERVE

Therapists can provide school or community resources, including behavioral health resources to a student, parent/guardian, families or to school staff. Therapists can provide engagement strategies, support and education to parent/guardian or school staff regarding effective social/emotional interventions and strategies for a specific student.

Therapists can intervene briefly to assist an individual youth to identify how situations, thoughts and emotions influence behaviors.