Mental Health Services & Predictors of Learning in Urban Schools

There are an estimated 4.5 to 6.3 million children with mental disorders in the United States. Emotional and behavioral problems associated with childhood mental disorders have a significant impact, with affected children at an increased risk of reduced quality of life and school dropout. If left untreated, childhood mental disorders may continue into adulthood, often impairing ability to function as an adult. It is believed that, compared to clinic-based services, school- and home-based mental health services may lead to greater improvements in children's learning and behavior at school and home. Especially important to this type of approach is a collaborative effort among parents, teachers, and children to encourage and maintain positive behaviors and academic performance both at home and in the classroom. This study evaluated the effectiveness of school- and home-based mental health services and training modules in supporting learning and behavior in financially disadvantaged children who live in urban areas.

This 3-year study involved parent, child, and teacher participants. During Year 1, teacher participants attended a professional development series that focused on strategies that classroom teachers can use to help children with learning and behavior problems at school. The series involved weekly 30-minute sessions, which were held before and after school hours, for a total of 6 months. Teachers completed a brief survey about the content and structure of sessions at the end of each session and gave a monthly review on how they applied their new strategies in the classroom setting. Teachers continued to attend booster sessions of up to 1 hour each month during Year 2. Teachers also participated in periodic case consultation meetings with parents and mental health providers to further develop ways to improve student participants' learning and behavior.

Child participants received either the community mental health program associated with their school or received general clinic-based services (Treatment as usual). The school component of the mental health program consisted of a classroom environment in which the teachers implemented their newly learned strategies to enhance the academic and behavioral performance of the child participants. Parents of child participants in the community mental health program were invited to attend a series of parent/teacher meetings and home visits where mental health service providers discussed strategies that parents and teachers can use to help improve their children's learning and behavior. Parents completed a brief questionnaire at the end of each meeting and gave a monthly review of how they implemented their new strategies in the home setting. Parents continued to communicate with research staff regarding services provided throughout the study.

Assessments for all participants occurred five times over 3 years. Assessments for parent participants included questions about their child's behavior at school and home, their child's use of mental health services, involvement in their child's schooling, and possible stresses in life. Assessments for teachers included questions about the behavior and academic performances of the child participants, parent involvement with the children's schooling, and stresses in their work environment. A research staff member also conducted a 2-hour classroom observation five times over 3 years. Individual child participants were also observed in the classroom by research staff for three 15-minute intervals five times over the study period.