Continuous Quality Improvement and Evaluation of Expanded School Mental Health Programs

Abstract

In the emerging expanded school mental health (ESMH) field, quality is one of the most, if not the most important, issues to focus on. Program quality is fundamental to effectiveness, and in this era of increased accountability, documenting effectiveness is paramount to the advancement of the field. Although some preliminary evaluation studies have been conducted, more information about quality of care and outcomes for youth receiving school mental health services is needed. In this chapter we review ideas for implementing continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities and evaluating the outcomes of ESMH programs. We also discuss challenges to CQI and evaluation and present ideas for future work and research in the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)