Implementation of a school mental health program in Chile in the context of new public management

Abstract

This research aimed to characterize the implementation of a public school mental health program through the practices and perspectives of those who execute it under the prism of the New Public Management in Chile. Through qualitative content analysis of nine focus groups and four interviews, the results showed that the implementation is characterized by implementers whose practices are strongly influenced by their years of experience, and for an execution that requires high levels of adaptability and goes beyond what is indi-cated in the technical guidelines. Its implications are discussed given the way decentralization has taken in Latin America and its consequences for public policies.