The BaMidbar Mental Health training program for educators: a Mixed Methods case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the BaMidbar Mental Health Training program and the influence the training had on community educator populations. This was a mixed method exploratory case study which utilized observational data and five interviews. A survey which examined the possible impacts of the trainings (through relevance and confidence variables) was utilized. We found that participants’ confidence had a higher correlation to the likelihood of implementing training materials than the relevance the training had to participants’ job placements. We also found categories of perceived skill development articulated by the participants interviewed. These skills included: checking in, changing spaces, giving students choices, giving feedback and identifying behaviors. There were concerns that the training programs did not create enough knowledge retention of specific therapeutic terms or scaffolding skills for educators to embed the training content into their job placements. Suggestions for further research and training programs are listed in the conclusion.