The majority of school-age children with or displaying characteristics of a mental health disorder do not independently seek help, often go undiagnosed or undetected, and fail to receive treatment or intervention leaving them susceptible to and at risk for poor school and life outcomes. In response to these concerns and in an effort to improve the…

The increase of chronic disease in the United States has created a strong demand for health education specialists (HESs) who are trained to facilitate behavioral, environmental and policy changes through program implementation and evaluation. However, it is difficult for colleges and universities to prepare future health educators to be competent…

The most efficient and effective framework for organizing mental health services in schools is through a multitiered system of support. This framework typically features three increasingly intense tiers intervention providing a continuum of care for all students in the school, not simply those identified as having a disability. Tier 1 universal…

In response to calls for greater efforts to reduce youth suicide, the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Memorial Act has provided funding for 68 state, territory, and tribal community grants, and 74 college campus grants for suicide prevention efforts. Suicide prevention activities supported by GLS grantees have included education, training programs…

One of the primary challenges in developing effective accountability systems is determining how best to include students with disabilities. The purpose of this paper is to report on the initial implementation of one option for including students with disabilities into the accountability system in the United States. In 2007, federal guidance…

Planning, developing, implementing, and sustaining organizational change, such as Response to Intervention (RTI), is a complex endeavor. This brief is designed to give practitioners guidance based on the implementation activities of middle school practitioners across the country. The authors recognize that secondary schools must consider many…

To increase safety and minimize the risk of interpersonal violence, it is critical that women with disabilities and Deaf women have an opportunity to identify whether or not abuse is happening in their lives. Awareness and knowledge of what constitutes abusive behaviors is an essential first step in addressing interpersonal violence. This article…

This article describes the development and growth of "Lifestyle Improvements in the Family Environment" ("L.I.F.E."), a school-based heart-health screening and intervention program. The primary goals of "L.I.F.E." through three rounds of grant funding remained constant: (a) to identify cardiovascular risk factors in…

Background: This article discusses the importance of screening students in schools for emotional/behavioral problems. Methods: Elements relevant to planning and implementing effective mental health screening in schools are considered. Screening in schools is linked to a broader national agenda to improve the mental health of children and…

CHALLENGE, the gifted education program in the Kingsville (Texas) Independent School District, is described. It is explained that the program follows the J. Renzulli "Enrichment Triad Model". Screening, course content, and program administration are considered. (CL)

The definition, administration, and implementation of a program based on the Gifted and Talented Screening Scale (GTSS) are presented. It is explained that the GTSS is a series of 25 single sentence questions for use by teachers in screening for gifted and talented (G/T) students. The administration of the scale is detailed as well as the research…

Current efforts in vocational assessment of handicapped secondary students are considered. A model is discussed via five chronological purposes: (1) screening, (2) placement, (3) program planning, (4) monitoring of individual progress, and (5) individual program evaluation. Two fundamental shifts in assessment are projected regarding vocational…

Reports on the operation of the Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT) in Massachusetts. Implications for developing similar screening programs in Australia are outlined. (CM)

The average age at which profoundly hearing-impaired children are identified in the United States and in Israel is compared. Israel's hearing screening programs for assessing infants are described, their effectiveness is noted, and suggestions are made for possible applications in the United States. (Author/JDD)

A comprehensive developmental screening model (CDSM) was designed to help local education agencies (LEAs), in Indiana, plan, develop, and implement screening programs for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. The CDSM is presented in three parts; Part I provides both empirical and philosophical support to the reasons for developing a screening program;…