There has been significant progress in our understanding of school-based social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) assessments since the last special issue on this topic a decade ago. This commentary provides a discussion of how each of the articles exemplifies the progress that has been made to advance the science of SEB assessment within…

Threat assessment involves evaluating and intervening with individuals who make threats of violence. This study examined the resulting actions and outcomes of threat assessment cases in three Colorado school districts. A particular focus of the study was on potential disparities. The sample consisted of 253 threat assessment cases reported by…

Social justice-centered training has progressed in school psychology, yet training and practice still do not adequately address systems-level influences on mental health, let alone focus on dismantling the systemic inequities that adversely affect the wellbeing of marginalized children and youth. An equity- and intersectional justice-minded…

To provide access to timely youth psychiatric care, the Bridge Program: School-Based Psychiatry provides interim, school-based psychiatric services by child psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse case managers at no cost to families. In its first year, Bridge served 394 youths, mostly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, within 10 days of…

In this article the authors advocate for a culturally responsible dual-factor model for the delivery of mental health services in the schools. This case is made because too many children are not receiving the mental health care they need in order to succeed in school and life. This is especially true for Black, Indigenous, children of color, and…

Nationally, school-based mental health (SBMH) is seen as an avenue to increase access to children's mental health services and promote mental health awareness. The current article describes the implementation of a statewide SBMH program focusing on partnerships between community-based providers and local school systems, with providers embedded…

Starting Strong in Kindergarten (Starting Strong) is a school-based indicated prevention targeting behavior problems, student-teacher relationships, and parent-school connectedness for children with or at risk for disruptive behavior problems during the transition to kindergarten. By use of a block-randomized, controlled trial to test program…

We report on a randomized controlled trial of Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS), which is a nationally mandated school-based mental health program in England. TaMHS aimed to improve mental health for students with, or at risk of, behavioral and emotional difficulties by providing evidence-informed interventions relating to closer working…

In the article by Ringeisen, Henderson, and Hoagwood (2003), the authors conclude that "simply stated, context matters" when implementing empirically supported interventions in the school setting, and they provide a state-of-the-art summary of how individual-level, organizational-level, and state/federal-level factors can affect dissemination. The…

Describes findings of a NASP-funded survey designed to identify and document exemplary mental health programs in which school psychologists were involved in program design, implementation, and/or evaluation. Results suggest school psychologists can assume a crucial role in providing mental health services for schools and communities. (Author/JDM)

An alternate approach in delivering mental health service to school systems is introduced. Rooted in preventive and community based principles, it switches the emphasis to primary preventive interventions as well as examining environmental and social system influences on children's development and adjustment. (Author/PN)

Addresses the current and future roles of school psychologists in mental health programming as evidence shows they are spending time conducting such programming. Describes programs where school psychologists assume key roles in mental health program development, implementation, and evaluation. Gives several suggestions for ways school…

Provides overview of sociocultural and political factors in the United States that have influenced recent interest in school-based health and mental health programs. Describes four well-known programs and presents a new framework, the Tripartite Model of School-Based Mental Health Interventions, to stimulate thinking on future programs. Addresses…

American schoolchildren show tremendous academic as well as intra- and interpersonal behavioral differences in the classroom. Current service delivery models within schools may be insufficient to meet the demand and diversity of students' needs, especially in schools serving students placed at risk by adverse life circumstances, such as poverty.…

As the article by Fantuzzo, McWayne, and Bulotsky (2003) indicates, it increasingly is recognized that research in the mental health field must include enhanced efforts to conduct work outside the laboratory and in collaboration with major stakeholders. However, the full implications of bringing the rigor of the scientific method into the…