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Improving Implementation of Mental Health Services for Trauma in Multicultural Elementary Schools: Stakeholder Perspectives on Parent and Educator Engagement

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Abstract

Although more schools are offering mental health programs, few studies have involved the school community in research to improve their successful implementation. In this community-partnered study, focus groups were conducted with school staff and parents to explore issues related to community engagement and feasibility of a mental health intervention for elementary school students exposed to trauma. Four educator focus groups, including 23 participants, and 2 parent focus groups, consisting of 9 Spanish-speaking and 7 English-speaking parents were conducted. Participants discussed facilitators and barriers to successful implementation of the program. Participants identified the importance of pre-implementation parent education, raising awareness of the impact of student mental health among educators, maintaining ongoing communication during the intervention, and addressing logistical concerns. Participants described clear considerations for parent and educator engagement, both at the pre-implementation phase and during implementation of the program. Implications for next steps of this community-partnered approach are described.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the following NIMH grants: K01MH082125 (Langley), P30MH082760, and T32MH073517 (Santiago).

Conflicts of Interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, 760 Westwood Plaza, Rm 67-447, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Audra Langley PhD

  2. Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA

    Catherine DeCarlo Santiago PhD

  3. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, White House 806 W. Franklin St, Richmond, VA, 23284-2018, USA

    Adriana Rodríguez MS

  4. 1138 Diamond Ave #A, South Pasadena, CA, 91030, USA

    Jennifer Zelaya BA

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  1. Audra Langley PhD
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  2. Catherine DeCarlo Santiago PhD
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  3. Adriana Rodríguez MS
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  4. Jennifer Zelaya BA
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Correspondence to Audra Langley PhD.

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Langley, A., Santiago, C.D., Rodríguez, A. et al. Improving Implementation of Mental Health Services for Trauma in Multicultural Elementary Schools: Stakeholder Perspectives on Parent and Educator Engagement. J Behav Health Serv Res 40, 247–262 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-013-9330-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-013-9330-6

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