School Community Partnership for Mental Health Milwaukee Wisconsin Audrey Potter, PhD

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Focus in Our Work

School Community Partnership for Mental Health Historical background Study by The Counseling Center of Milwaukee (Pathfinders) showed poor access to mental health services for youth Study by The Counseling Center of Milwaukee (Pathfinders) showed poor access to mental health services for youth There is no cohesive system to allow community mental health providers to collaborate with schools and families to meet the mental health needs of students There is no cohesive system to allow community mental health providers to collaborate with schools and families to meet the mental health needs of students Milwaukee’s high poverty rate, the cultural stigma of mental illness and high levels of bussing result in families having great difficulty accessing mental health services and collaboration with the schools Milwaukee’s high poverty rate, the cultural stigma of mental illness and high levels of bussing result in families having great difficulty accessing mental health services and collaboration with the schools Reimbursement policies and rates create barriers Reimbursement policies and rates create barriers

School/Agency Collaboration Developed model which parallels MPS efforts Developed model which parallels MPS efforts - Positive Behavioral Intervention System (PBIS) - Three-tiered system of instructional and behavioral supports (including social-emotional skill development) - Enhanced parent engagement  Education of agencies and school staff on common goals, terms and evidence-based strategies

2009 – Present Four community-based agencies joined with four Milwaukee Public Schools Four community-based agencies joined with four Milwaukee Public Schools Necessary steps: Necessary steps: -Support of unions -Convey information to and request support from community funders -Develop and implement research regarding outcomes -Design referral system for services Community health workers at schools Community health workers at schools School-based project coordinator and agency coordinator School-based project coordinator and agency coordinator

Milwaukee/Wisconsin Partners Agencies Involved: Agencies Involved: Youth Mental Health Connections/The Counseling Center of Milwaukee (Pathfinders)/Milwaukee Public Schools/Milwaukee Health Department/UW-Milwaukee School of Public Health/ Milwaukee County/Medical College of Wisconsin/Department of Health and Human Services for Wisconsin/HMOs/Planning Council for Health and Human Services/Greater Milwaukee Foundation/Kubly Foundation/Faye McBeath/MPS Safe Schools-Healthy Students Youth Mental Health Connections/The Counseling Center of Milwaukee (Pathfinders)/Milwaukee Public Schools/Milwaukee Health Department/UW-Milwaukee School of Public Health/ Milwaukee County/Medical College of Wisconsin/Department of Health and Human Services for Wisconsin/HMOs/Planning Council for Health and Human Services/Greater Milwaukee Foundation/Kubly Foundation/Faye McBeath/MPS Safe Schools-Healthy Students

Model Design Designed model to: Designed model to: -integrate community-based mental health agencies into schools to provide consultation & direct services -train school staff and parents about conditions/activities that support mental health and school success -coordinate care with primary health care providers, psychiatrists, agency providers and schools -develop policy and financial solutions that support increased mental health services

SCPMH Targeted Outcomes Sooner than typical access to consultation and therapeutic services from community mental health providers Sooner than typical access to consultation and therapeutic services from community mental health providers More than typical number of contacts (9) with mental health providers resulting in fewer symptoms or mental health concerns More than typical number of contacts (9) with mental health providers resulting in fewer symptoms or mental health concerns Increased teacher consultation with mental health providers Increased teacher consultation with mental health providers Improvement in attendance and reduction in suspensions for identified students Improvement in attendance and reduction in suspensions for identified students Improvement in academic achievement of identified students Improvement in academic achievement of identified students

Connection to Transition Improved social and emotional skills Improved social and emotional skills Greater likelihood of positive relationship with significant adult Greater likelihood of positive relationship with significant adult Greater school success Greater school success Improved parent/teacher/school interactions Improved parent/teacher/school interactions Greater self-advocacy Greater self-advocacy