Evidence Based/Informed

School bus drivers play an instrumental role in both promoting student mental health and reducing violence and bullying among students. To support bus drivers in these roles, leaders from Middletown, Connecticut instituted two programs: The Peaceful School Bus program aimed to decrease disruptive behavior and bullying on school buses, and Kognito aimed to help bus drivers identify and refer students experiencing mental health challenges.

The three LEAs (Lyon, Nye, and Washoe School Districts) provided ASQ-SE training for schools and community early childhood professionals. As a result, developmental screenings have been provided to 1,169 young children (2013-2016 school years). The school districts and community agencies have developed the infrastructure and capacity to continue the ASQ-SE screenings.

Each of Wisconsin’s LEAs: Racine, Menominee and Beloit, convened a SS/HS Core Management Team (CMT) to collaboratively lead, plan, and implement local SS/HS strategies to address the needs of students, families, and community. Needs assessment data confirmed that substance use was a serious concern leading to the implementation of alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) screenings, prevention, and intervention services to prevent behavioral health problems. 

Wisconsin’s SS/HS State Team and LEA’s worked in collaboration with the state Pyramid Model Implementation Team to expand early childhood social emotional learning (SEL) and development across the state through 1) broad implementation of the Pyramid Model, and 2) improving early identification of children at risk for SEL difficulties. By 2017, Wisconsin had 20 additional Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ-SE) trainers with the capacity to reach 180 districts and community partners; and 103 new Positive Solutions for Families trainers.

The number of students receiving school-based mental health services each year has increased to over 1,800 in 2015-16, which is 16% of all students across the three SS/HS LEAs in Michigan. SS/HS created sustainable collaborations with community partners and strengthened the infrastructure to facilitate student access to mental health services, track referrals, provide trainings and workshops for staff and families, and streamline data collection and sharing.

Disciplinary referrals were reduced by 28% from the 2013-14 to 2015-16 school year by implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and evidence-based practices, such as Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBS) and restorative practices, with fidelity at the elementary, middle, and high schools in all three SS/HS LEAs in Michigan.

The Greene County Educational Service Center (ESC) has a large minority population in their pre-schools and elementary schools with over 20 different languages and cultures represented.  Most students need services through the ESL (English language learner) and LEP (limited English proficiency) programs. ESC desired to effectively address diverse student needs while also engaging students and their families in a positive and respectful manner. 

The Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and the PAX Good Behavior Game are evidence-based programs (EBPs) that appear on the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). These classroom-based universal preventive intervention provides teachers’ strategies to grow nurturing classroom environments, foster social-emotional health, improve students’ attention and focus to academic tasks, provides trauma-informed prevention strategies to use as classroom management practices.

Pennsylvania has administered a statewide Student Assistance Program (SAP) across all the Commonwealth’s 500 school districts since 1985. SAP aims to develop and maintain mental health wellness and a safe and drug-free environment in schools and communities. It is designed to assist school personnel to identify misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as mental health concerns that may pose a barrier to a student’s success. Additionally, SAP responds to such issues and concerns through collaborative prevention, intervention, and post-intervention services.