Policy and practice innovations in school-based mental health services

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 166; p. 107970
• Main Authors: Bevan, Stacey L., DeWitt, Caroline C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Children; Health policy; Healthcare; Mental health; Schools; Healthcare; Health policy; Children; Schools; Mental health
• ISSN: 0190-7409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107970

•Schools play an important role in addressing the child mental health crisis.•Place-based models for health interventions are well suited to schools.•Recent changes in health policy expand opportunities for school-based health services.•Innovations include implementation, robust services, eligibility, and workforce.•Research, guidelines, and opportunities are aligned for school-based services. The child mental health crisis resulted in US legislative expansions of funding eligibility and access to clinical interventions in schools. In tandem with the movement to decentralize mental healthcare, we argue that schools are well-positioned to adopt place-based health care models. We describe this framework while summarizing the evidence of four priorities outlined in policy documents that promote equitable mental health access. We identify examples of federal and foundation grants aligned with implementation science, robust services, care eligibility, and workforce development. Our theory-informed discussion provides an overview of research and opportunities for school-based interventions promoting child mental health.