PROJECT PRIORITY:

To increase the number of qualified school-based mental health service providers in high-need rural local education agencies (LEAs) through the placement of School Psychology graduate students.

OBJECTIVES:

• To increase the number of qualified school psychologists from diverse backgrounds in Kansas high-need LEAs.

• To Increase the number of students from diverse backgrounds enrolled in school-based mental health programs training programs.

• To Increase awareness of school-based mental health career paths available to secondary students after graduation.

• Decrease the number of mental health referrals in participating high-need LEAs.

OUTCOMES:

• Participating LEAs will have access to essential school-based mental health services.
• Improved psychological well-being among the participating k-12 students at LEAs through inclusive practices.
• WSU School Psychology students will have increased access to applied experiences.  

MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM: 

In response to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, it became the responsibility of local agencies (LEAs) to provide access to mental health services for all children whose individualized education plan (IEP) included mental health treatment (Slade, Eric P, 2003). According to Costello et., al., (2013), the average wait for services after a mental health diagnosis in youth is 8-10 years. There are several factors that can be attributed to this delay, including the lack of access to mental health services for culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, the cost and accessibility of services such as transportation, and the stigma of mental illness (Conners et al., 2022; McKay & Bannon, 2004). Furthermore, in rural schools, there are fewer qualified applicants to work with children with emotional and behavioral disorders, and a higher turnover rate than in non-rural schools (Huscroft-D'Angelo et al. 2018; Provasnik et al., 2007).

SPIRSS PROJECT: 

School Psychologists are licensed professionals with expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior who are generally members of school multidisciplinary teams and help develop IEPs that are trained to use evidence-based practices to support student academic, social, behavioral, and emotional success (NASP, 2022). This SPIRSS project includes partnerships between the Wichita State University School Psychology Program and (3) high-need LEAs in rural Kansas. This project will provide districts access to essential school-based mental health services that are currently not readily available.  The LEAs will be scaffolded over 5 years with (1) LEA in the first year, (2) in the second, and (3) LEAs in years three through five. This project was developed to support the identified need for school-based mental health services in rural districts. Furthermore, the SPIRSS project develops applied learning opportunities for School Psychology graduate students during their field experience.

In addition to these efforts, the project includes outreach across rural districts in Kansas to advocate for training in school-based mental health fields to current educators and secondary students. Finally, there are 12 tuition stipends available for Individuals from diverse backgrounds or high-need communities over the five-year project.

This SPIRSS project is funded by the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) grant through the Department of Education (DOE). 

Project Director: Dr. Angela Beeler, Assistant Professor and Program Chair, School Psychology

Collaboration: Wichita State University College of Applied Studies, Intervention Services and Leadership in Education (ISLE) Department, ARISE Research Collaborative