National Institute for Urban Schools Improvement
September 29, 2015Disproportionality and Disparities in the Mental Health System
September 29, 2015Are School Based Mental Health Services Effective? Evidence from 36 Inner City Schools
Armbruster, P., & Lichtman, J. (1999). Are School Based Mental Health Services Effective? Evidence from 36 Inner City Schools. Community Mental Health Journal, 35(6), 493-504. doi:10.1023/A:1018755100381.
Amrbuster and Lichtman conducted a research study as an effort to bridge the opportunity gap between service need and service utilization. The study consisted of a clinic sample of children (N=220) compared to a sample served in the urban schools (N=256). Both sets of children received the same level of clinic-based services for a period of time. In the end, the findings demonstrated that school based mental health yielded greater results.
Armbruster and Lichtman address how school based mental health services have the potential for bridging the gap between need and utilization by reaching underserved and disadvantaged children that do not have access to these services. The results of the study indicate that school based mental health services are highly effective in providing service to underserved students. Furthermore the school personnel reported that the mental health intervention enhanced the overall functioning of the students receiving service