What role does a mental health provider play in the school setting?
Historically, psychologists and social workers have been available through districts for the purpose of evaluation or working with children with special needs. Within the last twenty years, school mental health providers have become much more involved in the educational experience of all children. Typical services include:
- Parent consultations
- Collaboration with teachers to address social, emotional and behavioral needs of individual student as well as the class as a whole
- Direct services to students such as short-term individual counseling, affective-needs skills groups, and mediation for problem solving
- Direct classroom instruction for character development, friendship/social skills, bullying issues and problem solving techniques
- Formal and informal assessment
- Consultation/Collaboration with outside health providers
- Development and monitoring of school safety plans
- Special education services