This article describes the design and implementation of an embedded therapy dog program through the counseling center at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. This program involves having a certified therapy dog present in the counseling center, in the waiting area, during counseling appointments, and during group therapy. It is discussed the…

Background: More than 20 million children in the United States lack access to primary health care. Practice Learning: Research shows that students with regular access to physical and mental health services have fewer absences, are more social, less likely to participate in risky behaviors, have improved focus and higher test scores. Implication…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to inform school-based services for children with acquired brain injury (ABI) by describing and analyzing functional student-outcome data from a state-wide, school-based, school re-entry consultation program, BrainSTEPS (Strategies Teaching Educators, Parents, and Students), in Pennsylvania. Method: A…

Exposure to trauma at a younger age has been associated with an increased likelihood of developing PTSD. School-based interventions have been utilized to address traumatic stress and PTSD symptoms in children. However, to date, no meta-analyses have been performed to evaluate the strength of intervention impacts on PTS symptoms in school-aged…

Schools have an important role to play in adolescent suicide prevention. This article describes universal screenings for depression and suicidality as one component of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program in middle and high schools following the suicide death of a student in the past few years. Of the students screened (N = 7,429), 11.0 percent of…

The number of school-age asylum seekers and refugees worldwide is increasing. Health promotion provided by school nurses can be crucial for the well-being of young asylum seekers, yet research on these nurses' experiences is limited. This qualitative study aims to describe school nurses' experiences of providing health promotion to school-age…

Social justice-centered training has progressed in school psychology, yet training and practice still do not adequately address systems-level influences on mental health, let alone focus on dismantling the systemic inequities that adversely affect the wellbeing of marginalized children and youth. An equity- and intersectional justice-minded…

Background: In 2012, the South African government initiated the Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) to serve as a national guideline on providing school health and support services from key stakeholders such as the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Department of Social Development (DSD). However, despite the…

Objective: To better understand differing needs of US and foreign-born pregnant and/or parenting community college students. Participants/Methods: We conducted online survey with 608 students living in a rural Midwestern state who were pregnant and/or parenting, 15% of whom were born outside of the United States. We used chi-square tests to…

To address the urgent need of mental health services on college campuses, particularly for historically marginalized students in HWIs (Historically White Institutions), the current paper presents a model of embedded counseling within campus cultural centers. Embedded counseling refers to having a mental health provider co-located and delivering…

There is no research available describing how school Occupational Therapy practitioners (OTPs) in Western New York (WNY) provide services. The purpose of this study was to determine OTP practice patterns in WNY schools, with a focus on delivery of contextual services and the contributing factors, consistent with American Occupational Therapy…

Background: College health practitioners are often the primary contact for students with concussion. The aim of this case report is to describe concussion management of a convoluted journey to recovery for a student over the course of an academic year. Case presentation: The case starts with an initial presenting event which is further complicated…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability affecting 1 in 44 children nationally. Timely referral to intervention and support services for ASD has consistently demonstrated significant long-term positive effects on symptoms and subsequent skills and family outcomes. This paper highlights a novel and innovative approach of…

Despite prevalent student mental and behavioral health (MBH) needs in rural communities, school mental health systems have not been thoroughly examined in rural areas and lack the perspectives of individuals who often help implement and utilize these systems (i.e., educators and caregivers). This study examined rural caregivers and educators'…

School-based mental health practitioners can offer enhanced support to schools and students; yet their training, roles, and expertise vary. The roles of these professionals are often conflated, misunderstood, or marginalized in their utility throughout the school system. The purpose of this manuscript is to enhance the capacity of educational…