Practitioner and Professional Development: Virtual Toolbox for Mental Health in Schools

This online toolbox compiles a sample of various brief resources developed by the national Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. There are many additional resources accessible by clicking on the Center's Online Clearinghouse Quick Finds and the catalogue of Resources and Publications.

While this toolbox is intended as an adjunct to the book Mental Health in Schools: Engaging Learners, Preventing Problems, and Improving Schools (Corwin Press, 2010), its contents should be useful to any school practitioner and those involved in pre-and inservice professional development programs.

The toolbox reflects a broad view of mental health in schools and of the role mental health plays in the well-being of students, their families, and their teachers. Also stressed is the value of embedding mental health into a comprehensive classroom and school-wide system for addressing barriers to learning and teaching and re-engaging disconnected students as an essential facet of ensuring all students have an equal opportunity to succeed at school.

Each section of the toolbox is under continuous development. All feedback and suggestions will be appreciated. Send comments to Ltaylor@ucla.edu

CONTENTS The Nine Sections of the Toolbox are: Framing Mental Health in Schools Concerns and Controversies Challenges and Opportunities in the Classroom About Behavior Problems and Social and Emotional Learning Mental Health Assistance for Students at School Focusing on the Well-being of School Staff On-line Clearinghouse Quick Finds and Fact & Information Resources Online Continuing Education Modules & Guidebooks Quick Training Aids & Tutorials

Section I. Framing Mental Health in Schools Mental Health in Schools: Brief Overview http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/aboutmh/mhinschools.html Policy Framework for Fully Integrating a Mental Health Focus in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/policyframework.pdf Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/freqaskedmh.pdf Mental Health in Schools: Becoming an Integrated Part of the School Improvement Agenda (Power Point presentation with an accompanying set of PDF formatted handouts) http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/mhpresentation.htm Guidelines for Mental Health in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/guidelinesmh.htm Clarifying the full continuum http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/clarifyng.pdf Organizing, mapping, and analyzing the work http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/organizing.pdf Schools, Families, and Community Working Together: Building an Effective Collaborative http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/buildingeffectivecollab.pdf Self-Study Survey of System Status http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/toolsforpractice/supportsystemsurvey.pdf Self-Study Survey for School-Community Collaboration http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/toolsforpractice/schoolcommunitysurvey.pdf Resources for Planning Mental Health in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/planning.pdf Mental Health in Schools - A Sampling of References http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/references.htm Resource Synthesis to Help Integrate Mental Health in Schools into the Recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/newfreedomcommission/resourcesynthesis.pdf Mental Health in Schools Policy & Program Reports & Briefs http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/materials/policyprogram.htm

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Section II. Concerns and Controversies About Screening Mental Health Problems in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/policyissues/mhscreeningissues.pdf About School and Classroom Climate School Climate http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/schoolclassroomclimate.pdf Security Measures at Schools: Mental Health Considerations http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/hottopic/hottopic(security).htm About Evidence-Based Practices in Schools Annotated "Lists" of Empirically Supported/evidence Based Interventions for School-aged Children and Adolescents http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/aboutmh/annotatedlist.pdf Evidence-Based Practices in Schools: Concerns About Fit and Implementation http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/Newsletter/Summer07.pdf About Empirically Supported Therapeutic Relationships http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/aboutmh/therapyrelationships.pdf Countering the Over-pathologizing of Students' Feelings & Behavior: A Growing Concern Related to MH in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/pathology.pdf Making MOUs Meaningful http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/makingmou.pdf Youth Participation: Making It Real http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/youthpartic.pdf

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Section III. Challenges and Opportunities in the Classroom Opening the Classroom Door to Bring in Supports Opening the Classroom Door http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/hottopic/hottopic(openingtheclassroomdoor).htm Volunteers as an Invaluable Resource http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/voluntresource.pdf Guiding and Supporting Volunteers http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/guiding volunteers.pdf Using Aides and Volunteers in Targeted Ways http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/usingaides.pdf Supports for Transition Welcoming Strategies for Newly Arrived Students and Their Families http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/welcomingstrategies.pdf Addressing School Adjustment Problems http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/adjustmentproblems.pdf Self-study Survey for Supports for Transition http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/toolsforpractice/transitionssurvey.pdf Accounting for Motivational and Ability Differences in the Classroom Personalizing Classroom Instruction http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/personalizing.pdf Turning Big Classes into Smaller Units http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/small%20classes.pdf Accounting for Diversity http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/accounting.pdf Accommodations http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/addingoptions.pdf Response to Intervention http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/responsetointervention.pdf Prereferral Intervening http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/prereferral.pdf About Motivation (add note to Practice Guide, etc.) http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/motivation.pdf

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Section IV. About Behavior Problems and Social and Emotional Learning Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Problems at School http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/promotingmh.pdf Clarifying the Full Continuum: Risk, Protective Buffers, and Youth Development Factors http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/fullcontinuum.pdf Determinants of Students' Problems http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/determinants.pdf Re-engaging Students in Learning at School http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/Newsletter/winter02.pdf Common Behavior Problems at School: A Natural Opportunity for Social and Emotional Learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/behaviorsocialemot.pdf Natural Opportunities to Promote Social-Emotional Learning and MH http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/naturalopportunities.pdf Intervention Focus in Dealing with Misbehavior http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/misbehavior.pdf Bullying: A Major Barrier to Student Learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/bullying.pdf Beyond Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Re-engaging Students in Classroom Instruction http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/beyondpbs.pdf Working with Disengaged Students (Replace with new version) http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/disengagedstudents.pdf Addressing Truancy http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/addtruancy.pdf

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Section V. Mental Health Assistance for Students at School Types of Mental Health Assistance at Schools Forms of Corrective Intervention http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/correctivemh.pdf Overview of Practices for Problem Identification, Triage, Referral, and Monitoring Care (Replaces Developing Systems at a School for Problem Identification, Triage, Referral, and Management of Care (Practice Notes) http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/developingsystems.pdf Identifying and Clarifying Need http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/idneed.pdf Triage http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/triage.pdf Consultation and Referral http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/conref.pdf Monitoring/Managing Care http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/monitoring.pdf Addressing School Adjustment Problems http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/adjustmentproblems.pdf School Responses to Natural Disasters http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/naturaldisasters.pdf When a Student Seems Dangerous to Self or Others http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/dangerous.pdf Responding to a Student in Crisis: Psychological First Aid http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/respondcrisis.pdf Suicidal Crisis http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/suicide.pdf Grief and Loss http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/grief.pdf School Helping Students Deal with Loss http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/loss.pdf Involving Parents in Counseling http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/involvingparents.pdf Obesity and Mental Health http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/obesityandmh.pdf Prescription Drugs Abuse Among Youth http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/abuseofprescript.pdf Homework is a Mental Health Concern http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/homework.pdf Dropout Prevention http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/dropoutprevention.pdf Self-Study Survey of Crisis Response and Prevention http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/toolsforpractice/crisissurvey.pdf Self-Study Survey of Student and Family Assistance Programs & Services http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/toolsforpractice/studentfamilysurvey.pdf Additional practical tools and materials http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/addmat.pdf

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Section VI. Focusing on the Well-being of School Staff Be Concerned About Staff Mental Health and Well-Being http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/staffmh.pdf

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Section VII. On-line Clearinghouse Quick Finds and Fact & Information Resources QUICK FINDS: A topical set of resources that is readily accessed through a menu (direct website addresses are provided). The menu of over 130 specific Quick Finds covers topics related to disaster response, classroom management, motivation (including engagement and re-engagement in classroom learning), social and emotional development, and much more. Some of the Quick Finds provide links directly to staff/stakeholder development and training aids and tutorials and continuing education modules. http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/quicksearch.htm FACT & INFORMATION RESOURCES, AND BRIEF AIDS Center developed brief fact and information resources http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/materials/trainingpresentation.htm#fact

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Section VIII. Online Continuing Education Modules & Guidebooks Addressing Barriers to Learning: New Directions for Mental Health in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/contedu/conted.pdf Addressing Barriers to Learning: A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health in Schools http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/ceaddressing/ceforchange.pdf Enhancing School Staff Understanding of MH and Psychosocial Concerns: A Guide http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/enhancingschoolstaff.pdf Mental Health in Schools: New Roles for School Nurses http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/Nurses/unit1.pdf Fostering School, Family, and Community Involvement: in the series, Safe and Secure: Guides to Creating Safer Schools. http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/publications/44 guide 7 fostering school family and community involvement.pdf Sustaining School and Community Efforts to Enhance Outcomes for Children and Youth: A Guidebook and Tool Kit http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/sustaining.pdf School-Community Partnerships: A Guide http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/guides/schoolcomm.pdf Mental Health and School Based Health Centers http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/MHSBHC/wholemhsbhc.pdf Common Psychosocial Problems of School Aged Youth: Developmental Variations, Problems, Disorders and Perspectives for Prevention and Treatment (Guidebook) http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/psysocial/entirepacket.pdf

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Section IX. Quick Training Aids & Tutorials Assessing & Screening http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/assessmentandscreening.pdf Attention Problems in School http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/assessmentandscreening.pdf Behavior Problems at School http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/behaviorproblems.pdf Bullying Prevention http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/bullyingprevention.pdf Case Management in the School Context http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/casemanagement.pdf Classroom Changes to Enhance and Re-engage Students in Learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/classchange_tt/classroomfull.pdf Community Outreach: School-Community Resources to Address Barriers to learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/Commout_tt/communityfull.pdf Confidentiality http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/confidentiality.pdf Crisis Assistance and Prevention: Reducing Barriers to Learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/crisis_tt/crisispdf.pdf Re-engaging Students in Learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/reengagingstudents.pdf School-Based Crisis Intervention http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/schoolbasedcrisisinterv.pdf School Interventions to Prevent and Respond to Adolescent Affect and Mood Problems http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/affectandmood.pdf School Staff Burnout http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/schoolstaffburnout.pdf Students & Family Assistance Programs and Services to Address Barriers to Learning http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/student_tt/studentfamfull.pdf Suicide Prevention http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/suicideprevention.pdf Support for Transitions http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/transition_tt/transitionsfull.pdf Violence Prevention http://www.smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/quicktraining/violenceprevention.pdf

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WebMaster: Perry Nelson (smhp@ucla.edu)