Staggering numbers of children with mental health needs do not receive appropriate services. By conservative estimation, approximately 20 percent of youth need mental health intervention; some estimates range as high as 38 percent. 

When children do receive mental health services, it is most likely to not occur in the specialty mental health sector but rather in public schools (Rones & Hoagwood, 2000; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999, 2001). School mental health programs and services play an important role in overcoming some of these disparities in children's mental health services, as well as addressing barriers to student learning.   

However, schools are just one critical element of the cross-disciplinary network–of parents, teachers, providers, and other community members and services–that is necessary to improve mental health outcomes for children and youth in schools and communities.

Learning Objectives:

This webinar featured the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC), which will share lessons that emerged from a five-year CDC-funded initiative in four states (Maryland, Missouri, Ohio and Oregon), aimed at identifying innovative approaches in states and building school mental health capacity around areas of need.  

This webinar:

• Explored critical system-level planning factors and strategies that were identified from convening discussion groups with diverse stakeholders, including youth.
  

• Discussed the use of social marketing to ”make the case” for mental health and bridging the gap between education and mental health fields through the lens of academic achievement.
  

• Examined the need for tools to help school-based and interdisciplinary teams perform a quality improvement process.    

Speakers discussed their response to these critical factors, as well as challenged grantmakers to consider future trends and directions for advancing the field of school mental health.

Presenter:
Laura Hurwitz, Director of School Mental Health Programs, National Assembly on School-Based Health Care

Respondent:
Terri D. Wright, MPH, Director, Center for School, Health & Education, Division of Public Health Policy and Practice, American Public Health Association

Event Materials:

General materials from this event are available below. A recording of this event and additional resources are available to all event participants and GCYF members, free of charge. Please contact info@gcyf.org for more information.

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