Center for School Mental Health (CSMH)
The mission of the Center for School Mental Health (CSMH) is to strengthen policies and programs in school mental health to improve learning and promote success for America's youth. From its inception in 1995, the Center's leadership and interdisciplinary staff has promoted the importance of providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and families directly in schools and communities.
We continue to advance evidence-based care in schools (from preschool to college; P-16) and collaborate at local, state, national, and international levels to advance research, training, policy, and practice in school mental health. The CSMH is committed to promoting success for all students through a shared family -- school -- community agenda and co-facilitates the National Community of Practice on Collaborative School Behavioral Health.
We collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders invested in integrated approaches to reduce barriers to student learning:
- youth and families
- educators, health, and mental health providers
- researchers
- child serving agency staff
- advocates
- administrators and policymakers
- community partners
News and Resources
- JOIN US at the The 2018 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health early bird registation is available until JUNE 30, 2018!
- The CSMH offers a free online platform, the School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System (The SHAPE System) to collect census data and help advance quality and sustainability in school mental health.
- DOWNLOAD the School Mental Health Screening Playbook
- "13 Reasons Why" Resource Guide
- A compilation of resources and recommendations from the Maryland Suicide Prevention Early Intervention Network (SPIN), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), The Jed Foundation and Suicide Awareness and Voices of Education (SAVE), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maryland.
- Tips for Parents and Caregivers: Talking to Youth about Community Conflict
The Center recently published a resource on how to help youth cope with upsetting events in a positive way. - Tips for School Mental Health Providers: Addressing Police/Community Conflicts
The Center recently published a resource on addressing police/community conflicts specifically developed for school mental health providers. - Are the Children Well? A Model and Recommendations for Promoting the Mental Wellness of the Nation's Young People
Child Trends and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published the report Are the Children Well? which reviews the economic costs of mental illness amongst young people as well as the barriers to accessing mental health services and recent policy changes to increase access. - Creating Emotionally Safe Learning Environments
The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) has a website that contains information about the Center's training and technical assistance, products and tools, and the latest research findings. - The Impact of School-Connected Behavioral and Emotional Health Interventions on Student Academic Performance provides a systematic review of the current literature (2001-2013) that summarizes research findings linking prevention-focused behavioral health interventions (e.g., social and emotional learning programs) with student academic outcomes (e.g., absenteeism, bullying, problem behaviors).
- School Mental Health: A Federal Perspective
The recording and powerpoint are available for the webinar co-hosted by the CSMH and IDEA Partnership on January 30, 2014. - Leading by Convening
The IDEA Partnership developed a report focused around authentic engagement in the workplace. - Advancing Education Effectiveness
Using the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF), this monograph articulates collective efforts to improve the quality of life and outcomes for children and youth. - Dealing with Natural and Man-Made Distasters: A compilation of useful resources now available.
- CSMH offers several high quality, multi-media, cost free professional development online trainings via mdbehavioralhealth.com, including modules titled “Community-Partnered School Behavioral Health.”
- The CSMH continues to make great strides in its National Quality Initiative efforts in collaboration with the School-based Health Alliance.