Advancing Evidence-Based Assessment in School Mental Health: Key Priorities for an Applied Research Agenda

Prerna G Arora; Elizabeth H Connors; Melissa W George; Aaron R Lyon; Courtney B Wolk; Mark D Weist

doi:10.1007/s10567-016-0217-y

Advancing Evidence-Based Assessment in School Mental Health: Key Priorities for an Applied Research Agenda

Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2016 Dec;19(4):271-284. doi: 10.1007/s10567-016-0217-y.

Authors

Prerna G Arora^{1

2}, Elizabeth H Connors³, Melissa W George⁴, Aaron R Lyon⁵, Courtney B Wolk⁶, Mark D Weist⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Pace University, 41 Park Row, 13th Floor, New York, NY, 10038, USA. parora@pace.edu.
² School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 West Lombard Street, 420, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. parora@pace.edu.
³ School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 West Lombard Street, 420, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
⁴ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, 439 Behavioral Sciences Building, 1570 Campus Delivery, 410 West Pitkin Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 6200 NE 74th Street, Suite 100, Box 354920, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA.
⁶ Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
⁷ Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 1512 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.

PMID: 27730441
DOI: 10.1007/s10567-016-0217-y

Abstract

Evidence-based assessment (EBA) is a critically important aspect of delivering high-quality, school-based mental health care for youth. However, research in this area is limited and additional applied research on how best to support the implementation of EBA in school mental health (SMH) is needed. Accordingly, this manuscript seeks to facilitate the advancement of research on EBA in SMH by reviewing relevant literature on EBA implementation in schools and providing recommendations for key research priorities. Given the limited number of published studies available, findings from child and adolescent mental health and implementation science research are also included to inform a robust and comprehensive research agenda on this topic. Based on this literature review, five priorities for research on EBA in SMH are outlined: (1) effective identification of assessment targets, (2) appropriate selection of assessment measures, (3) investigation of organizational readiness for EBA, (4) study of implementation support for EBA, and (5) promotion of EBA data integration and use. Each priority area includes recommended directions for future research. A comprehensive and robust research agenda is warranted to build the science and practice of implementing EBA in SMH. Specific directions for this agenda are offered.

Keywords: Children and adolescents; Evidence-based assessment; Implementation science; School mental health.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Evidence-Based Practice / standards*
Health Services Research / standards*
Humans
Mental Health Services / standards*
School Health Services / standards*