ABSTRACT

School mental health (SMH) services for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems represent a substantial advance in our ability to effectively meet their needs and improve outcomes. In this chapter we describe some of the important advances as well as limitations that severely hinder the potential of these services to optimally benefit students. The potential value of integrating evidence-based practices into SMH services and some of the obstacles that keep this from happening will be discussed. A review of the types of SMH services that can be provided and how culture, community, developmental levels, race, and socioeconomic factors can shape them is included. We also discuss the different purposes of accommodations and interventions and how these can be considered when planning services for students. There is incredible potential for SMH services to meaningfully improve the outcomes of students with emotional and behavioral problems and we review our progress towards achieving that potential.