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Mental Health in Schools

Engaging Learners, Preventing Problems, and Improving Schools

By: Howard S. Adelman, Linda Taylor

Necessary reading for anyone concerned with student wellness and effective schools!

Two nationally known experts describe how a new approach to school-based mental health can better serve students, maximize resources, and promote academic performance. Learn how to effectively support a healthy school environment and help at-risk students overcome barriers to learning. Readers will find:

An overview of the past and present state of school mental health programs
Recommendations for effective school-based initiatives, including discussion of behavior issues, classroom-based activities, and community resources
A plan for higher-quality mental health programming across public schools—including strategies for collaboration, research, and advocacy

Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12, Elementary, Secondary
ISBN: 9781412975384
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2009
Page Count: 328
Publication date: October 29, 2009

Price: $46.95

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Description

"This resource gives the reader everything needed to design and implement a successful mental health program to benefit a diverse student population. The authors present a strong case for planning and delivering comprehensive integrated services. I commend the authors for their willingness to tackle the tough issues surrounding mental health services for all students."
—Marian White-Hood, Director of Academics, Accountability, and Principal Support
See Forever Foundation

Necessary reading for anyone concerned with student wellness and effective schools!

For many children, schools are the main or only providers of mental health services. In this visionary and comprehensive book, two nationally known experts describe a new approach to school-based mental health—one that better serves students, maximizes resources, and promotes academic performance.

The authors describe how educators can effectively coordinate internal and external resources to support a healthy school environment and help at-risk students overcome barriers to learning. School leaders, psychologists, counselors, and policy makers will find essential guidance, including:

An overview of the history and current state of school mental health programs, discussing major issues confronting the field
Strategies for effective school-based initiatives, including addressing behavior issues, introducing classroom-based activities, and coordinating with community resources
A call to action for higher-quality mental health programming across public schools—including how collaboration, research, and advocacy can make a difference

Gain the knowledge you need to develop or improve your school's mental health program to better serve both the academic and mental health needs of your students!

Key features

Critical topic: school-based mental health services
High profile authors
Focus on change and new directions which is aligned with the goals of the new administration
Will offer some strategies and tools for implementation

Author(s)

Howard S. Adelman

Howard S. Adelman is professor of psychology and codirector of the School Mental Health Project and its federally supported National Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. He began his professional career as a remedial classroom teacher in 1960. In 1973, he returned to UCLA in the role of professor of psychology and also was the director of the Fernald School and Laboratory until 1986.

In 1986, Adelman and Linda Taylor established the School Mental Health Project at UCLA. The two have worked together for over 30 years with a constant focus on improving how schools and communities address a wide range of psychosocial and educational problems experienced by children and adolescents. Over the years, they have worked together on major projects focused on dropout prevention, enhancing the mental health facets of school-based health centers, and developing comprehensive, school-based approaches for students with learning, behavior, and emotional problems. Their work has involved them in schools and communities across the country. The current focus of their work is on policies, practices, and large-scale systemic reform initiatives to enhance school, community, and family connections to address barriers to learning and promote healthy development. This work includes codirecting a national Center for Mental Health in Schools, which facilitates the National Initiative: New Directions for Student Support.

Linda Taylor

Linda Taylor is codirector of the School Mental Health Project and its federally supported national Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA.

In her early career, Taylor was involved in community agency work. From 1973 to 1986, she codirected the Fernald Laboratory School and Clinic at UCLA. In 1986, she became codirector of the School Mental Health Project. From 1986 to 2000, she also held a clinical psychologist position in the Los Angeles Unified School District and directed several large-scale projects for the school district.

Taylor and Howard S. Adelman have worked together for over 30 years with a constant focus on improving how schools and communities address a wide range of psychosocial and educational problems experienced by children and adolescents. Over the years, they have worked together on major projects focused on dropout prevention, enhancing the mental health facets of school-based health centers, and developing comprehensive, school-based approaches for students with learning, behavior, and emotional problems. Their work has involved them in schools and communities across the country. The current focus of their work is on policies, practices, and large-scale systemic reform initiatives to enhance school, community, and family connections to address barriers to learning and promote healthy development. This work includes codirecting a national Center for Mental Health in Schools, which facilitates the National Initiative: New Directions for Student Support.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

Part I. The Field of Mental Health in Schools

1. Mental Health in Schools: Past and Present

2. About Moving Toward a Comprehensive Approach

Part II. Three Major Issues Confronting the Field

3. Labeling, Screening, and Over-Pathologizing

4. Evidence-Based Practices in Schools: Concerns About Fit and Implementation

5. Social Control Versus Engagement in Learning: A Mental Health Perspective

Part III. Moving Forward: School-Based Strategies for Addressing Behavior, Learning, and Emotional Problems

6. A Period of Transition and Possible Transformation

7. Strategies for Embedding Mental Health in School Improvement

8. Social and Emotional Learning and Promotion of Mental Health: Implications for Addressing Behavior Problems

9. Challenges and Opportunities for Promoting Mental Health in the Classroom

10. Mental Health Assistance for Students at School

11. Focusing on the Well-Being of School Staff

Part IV. Policy and Systemic Change for Moving Forward

12. New Directions

13. Collaboration: Working Together to Move Forward and Enhance Impact

14. Show Us the Data: Using and Extending the Research Base

15. Addressing Systemic Change

Call to Action: Moving Forward

Appendix: Leadership at a School Site for an Enabling or Learning Supports Component

References

Index

Reviews

"This book is a must-read for those seeking support in creating meaningful school improvement plans and valuable, comprehensive healthy school initiatives.”

Lyman Goding, Lecturer, Bridgewater State College
Retired Principal, Plymouth Community Intermediate School, Bridgewater, MA

“The text chronicles 50 years of national policy in school-based mental health history to reveal the evolution of current models of service. It affords readers a rare glimpse at the intricately woven positions of government and advocacy agencies that result in policy shifts. The authors further challenge readers to critically review current school screening, referral, and intervention practices. In conclusion, there is a call for new directions in policy and systemic change that both restructures and enhances the role of support service personnel.”

Diana Joyce, Psychologist
University of Florida, Gainesville

“This resources gives the reader everything needed to design and implement a successful mental health program to benefit a diverse student population. The authors present a strong case for planning and delivering comprehensive integrated services. I commend the authors for their willingness to tackle the tough issues surrounding mental health services for all students.”

Marian White-Hood, Director of Academics, Accountability, and Principal Support
See Forever Foundation

"Howard Adelman and Linda Taylor take on an issue of great import, and succeed in tackling it thoroughly. It provides any reader with a solid foundation for both knowledge in the subject matter, and also sufficiently guides the reader in his or her action plans of change. The authors should be commended for their efforts, and educational administrators should be advised to read this book, taking from it strategies and plans to suit their own students and district."

Education Review: Brief Reviews, August 2010