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…

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…

The "Handbook of Youth Prevention Science" describes current research and practice in mental health preventive interventions for youth. Traditional prevention research focused on preventing specific disorders, e.g. substance abuse, conduct disorders, or criminality. This produced "silos" of isolated knowledge about the…

School health services work towards promoting and maintaining health of school-age children. An additional aspect of an effective program is to identify problems and manage or follow these problems to resolution. Resolution rates of health problems identified in students by primary care, physical examination, or screenings are examined. (Author/DF)

This manual for the school health programs in New Mexico contains a composite of procedures used in school health services, healthful school environment maintenance, and health science instruction. These procedures are used by physicians, dentists, nurses, teachers, etc. to appraise, protect, and promote optimum health of students and school…