Prevention & Intervention
AT ALL LEVELS/TIERS
Start with a Common Understanding
"Any strategy implemented in a classroom setting to improve the health and well-being of students, often by reducing or preventing pathology and problem behaviors (e.g., depression, social anxiety, cigarette smoking, drug or alcohol use, bullying and aggression). Requiring interdisciplinary coordination among school psychologists, counselors, social workers, teachers, and administrative staff, programs may be targeted at subgroups of high-risk individuals or implemented across the general school population of children and adolescents."
"Based on a public health framework, prevention is an underlying principle at all three tiers, with Tier 1 focused on promoting mental health and preventing occurrences of problems, Tier 2 preventing risk factors or early-onset problems from progressing, and Tier 3 individually intervening to address more serious concerns that affect student daily functioning."
"Mental health promotion services and supports (Tier 1) are mental health-related activities, including promotion of positive social, emotional, and behavioral skills and well-being, which are designed to meet the needs of all students regardless of whether or not they are at risk for mental health problems. These activities might also include efforts to support a positive school climate and staff well-being. These activities can be implemented school-wide, at the grade level, and/or at the classroom level."
"Early intervention services and supports (Tier 2) to address mental health concerns are provided for students who have been identified through needs assessments, screening, referral, or other school teaming processes as experiencing mild distress or functional impairment, or being at risk for a given problem or concern. When problems are identified early and supports put in place, positive youth development is promoted and problems can be eliminated or reduced."
"Treatment services and supports (Tier 3) to address mental health concerns are provided for students who are already experiencing significant distress and functional impairment. "
"In Tacoma, a community-wide effort to better serve children is underway, and the first step is common language and shared best practices among the adults."