From Addressing Barriers to Learning,
Vol.2 (2), Spring 1997

Ideas into Practice

Developing Systems at a School for Problem Identification,
Triage, Referral, and Management of Care

In responding to the mental health and psychosocial concerns of students, school staff make a variety of decisions. This figure and the outline on the following page highlight matters to be considered as a school develops its systems for problem identification, triage, referral, and management of care.

The following outline highlights matters to be considered as a school develops its systems for problem identification, triage, referral, and management of care.

Problem identification

(a) Problems may be identified by anyone (staff, parent, student).
(b) There should be an Identification Form that anyone can access and fill out.
(c) There must be an easily accessible place for people to turn in forms.
(d) All stakeholders must be informed regarding the availability of forms, where to turn them in, and what will happen after they do so.

Triage processing

(a) Each day the submitted forms must be reviewed, sorted, and directed to appropriate resources by a designated and trained triage processor. Several individuals can share this task; for example, different persons can do it on a specific day or for specified weeks.
(b) After the sorting is done, the triage processor should send a Status Information Form to the person who identified the problem (assuming it was not a self-referral).

Clients directed to resources or for further problem analysis and recommendations

(a) For basic necessities of daily living (e.g., food, clothing, etc.), the triage processor should provide information about resources either through the person who identified the problem or directly to the student/family in need.
(b) If the problem requires a few sessions of immediate counseling to help a student/family through a crisis, the triage processor should send the form to the person who makes assignments to on-site counselors.
(c) The forms for all others are directed to a small triage "team" (1-3 trained professionals) for further analysis and recommendations. (If there is a large case load, several teams might be put into operation.) Members of such a team may not have to meet on all cases; some could be reviewed independently with recommendations made and passed on the next reviewer for validation. In complex situations, however, not only might a team meeting be indicated, it may be necessary to gather more information from involved parties (e.g., teacher, parent, student).

Interventions to ensure recommendations and referrals are pursued appropriately

(a) In many instances, prereferral interventions should be recommended. This means a site must be equipped to implement and monitor the impact of such recommendations.
(b) When students/families are referred for health and social services, procedures should be established to facilitate motivation and ability for follow-through. Care management should be designed to determine follow-through, coordination, impact, and possible need for additional referrals.
(c) Referrals to assess the need for special or compensatory education often are delayed because of a waiting list. Back logs should be monitored and arrangements made to catch-up (e.g., by organizing enough released time to do the assessments and reviews).

Management of care (case monitoring and management)

(a) Some situations require only a limited form of monitoring (e.g., to ensure follow-through). A system must be developed for assigning care monitors as needed. Aides and paraprofessionals often can be trained to for this function.
(b) Other situations require intensive management by specially trained professionals to (1) ensure interventions are coordinated/integrated and appropriate, (2) continue problem analysis and determine whether appropriate progress is made, (3) determine whether additional assistance is needed, and so forth. There are many models for intensive management of care. For example, one common approach is to assign the responsibility to the professional who has the greatest involvement (or best relationship) with the student/family.
(c) One key and often neglected function of the care manager is to provide appropriate status updates to all parties who should be kept informed.


This material is from the Center's Technical Aid Packet entitled School-based Client Consultation,Referral, and Management of Care which discusses why it is important to approach student clients as consumers and to think in terms of managing care not cases. The packet also discusses prereferral interventions and deals with referral as a multifaceted intervention. Examples of tools to aid in the various processes are included. Click HERE for information on how to request this technical resource aid.


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