Improving school-wide approaches in school behavioral health

Abstract

Multitiered systems of support (MTSS) are designed to support mental health concerns at every level of need, including promotion/prevention, early intervention, and intensive intervention to improve social, emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning in youth. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) exemplifies the MTSS framework, emphasizing the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs), data-based decision-making, effective teaming, and selecting, implementing, and refining EBPs. PBIS has been found to enhance student outcomes in a number of realms. Challenges related to the implementation of these school-wide approaches include implementation at all tiers with fidelity, assuring program buy-in from and providing effective training for staff, increasing family engagement in leadership and programming, and scaling up to large-scale implementation. Overcoming these barriers will help ensure that the values of MTSS and PBIS are supported from the top-down and improve long-term outcomes for students.