Evaluation of an Urban School-Based Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Professional Development and Consultation Model

Abstract

Social, emotional, and behavioral health challenges pose significant barriers to students’ academic success, yet teachers report that they do not feel equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to address these challenges in their classrooms. This article presents findings associated with the effectiveness of an innovative school-based behavioral health professional development and consultation model designed to address this need for urban educators. Program evaluation results from school-based team members from five pilot schools over a two-year partnership period indicate that this model is highly used and valued by school staff, as well as perceived by school staff as effective in building the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to implement strategies and build systems in schools to address students’ social, emotional, and behavioral health needs. Progress monitoring data suggests that this learning is translating to actual systemic change in schools based on school-based team members’ reports of progress toward goals specific to the behavioral health systems, procedures, and protocols at their schools. The findings highlight the implications for school-based consultants and practitioners based on the promise of this model.