Healthier Youth through Emotional Health Screening Lindsey Bruins, MSW, APSW Program Coordinator Kris Tagliapietra, RN Case Manager
Session Objectives Understand the history and process of the universal emotional health screening tool Be able to assess community readiness and identify key players in the community/school settings that are essential to support implementation of an emotional health universal screening tool in a school-based setting Understand the use of data to support the sustainability of universal emotional health screening programs and evaluate screening expansion
Why the Need? http://bit.ly/2gm1tvx
Reflection Question What, if any, roadblocks to universal screening for behavior exist in your district/school?
History of YScreen Universal Emotional Health Screen Started as Teenscreen in 2002 Fond du Lac High School = first site in Wisconsin Program name was changed to YScreen in 2013 Currently use the Pediatric Symptom Checklist - Youth Report Screening expansion has occurred over the past 14 years Since 2002. close to 11,000 students have been screened approximately 2,000 students have been referred almost 1,200 students have been connected to services
Pre-Screening Prep Setting and materials needed Communication with school: Principal Classroom Teacher Counselors All other staff Communication with parents and students: Parent orientation presentations Classroom presentation
Parent Consent *Best Practice is active parent AND student consent Share information on screening and then a PARENT CONSENT form to be returned as YES or NO Ideally 100% returned IF NO - Why? Contact information - how to reach a parent/guardian during the school day
LET'S GET STARTED The Student Assent: Have them complete demographics Read them the entire Assent Form They decide Yes or No and sign the form Ask about reading or language barriers Have them complete the screen independently - paper or computer
Typical Screen Results Negative Score False Negative Student in Treatment Positive Score Positive Screen False Positive Screen Student in Treatment ** Explain our Scoring**
Debriefing Ask some additional questions Coping Skills Resources (support system) Stressors Review all the questions on the screen and ask about any concern areas IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT? **Role Play**
Clinical Interview Additional assessment by a licensed counselor or????? STANDARD questions - report answers NO DIAGNOSIS, identify symptoms At the end of this interview the clinician makes a recommendation: Nothing further School-based referral (support/monitoring) Community-based referral (further evaluation) Already in treatment Other
Case Management Discussion with student Initial Parent Call Letter and resources Referrals to school Follow up calls Documentation/ Release of Information Closing a case
Scenarios The perfect case Parent Refusals Student Refusals Crisis NO TWO are exactly alike QUESTIONS?????
Reflection Question What, if any, roadblocks to universal screening for behavior exist in your district/school?
Potential Roadblocks Absence of administrative support Lack of knowledge regarding the process Fear of labeling students Apprehension regarding parental/guardian response Concerns regarding cost/time to implement universal screening
The BIG Question What will you do with your students once they have been identified as needing additional supports?
Prepare Your School to Implement a Universal Screening Raise awareness and build school/community support Choose staffing model and identify your team Select your screening population, location, schedule and questionnaire Develop a referral network and community resource guide
Establish a Strong Foundation for Universal Screening Administrative Support School Board Members Key Stakeholders Medical Providers Mental Health Providers Community Agencies and Organizations
Educate and Engage School Personnel School Personnel can dramatically influence the success of a screening program Inform all school personnel of your plans to implement screening and obtain their support for and commitment to your efforts Build working relationships Present your plans at a faculty/department meeting
Seek Advice and Help from School Personnel How will parents react to screening? Best ways to approach parents & youth? Ask for assistance promoting the program to parents and youth distributing and securing the return of parent consent forms Help and buy-in is especially critical from the teachers whose classes will be impacted by consent distribution and screening
Principles of Quality Screening Programs Screening must always be voluntary Approval to conduct screening must be obtained from appropriate leadership All screening staff must be qualified and trained Confidentiality must be protected Parents of identified youth must be informed of the screening results and offered assistance with securing an appointment for further evaluation
Developing a Mental Health Referral Network and Community Resource Guide Key Points: The Referral Network should include providers for insured and uninsured teens Develop relationships with providers in your community who: Evaluate and treat a variety of conditions Agree to accept your referrals in a timely manner and do not have long wait lists Are culturally appropriate The Community Guide should include a variety of resources relevant to parents and their teen Planning Questions: 1. Have you contacted mental health providers for your referral network? 2. Have you identified community resources to enhance your services and provide additional linkages and resources to at-risk teens?
Small Group - Activity **Assess Community Readiness**
Funding Agnesian HealthCare Fond du Lac Area United Way Wisconsin Partnership Program - Medical College of Wisconsin (Madison) Local Donations In-kind Contributions
Data Collection Baseline Data What do you want to collect? And why? Data should always support purpose/goals For example: Number of permission slips distributed Number of permission slips returned Number of students screened Number of students referred Number of first appointments made
Program Evaluation Student Surveys Used to create strategies that will increase participation rates Faculty Surveys Used to gather faculty feedback on service offered within school setting Parent Surveys Used to gather information on the family s experience with the program and how the child is doing now
Student Feedback YScreen kind of saved me from killing myself. YScreen actually does help. - anonymous student This screen was helpful for me, because it allowed me to talk and be honest about some of the things I ve gone through. I m thankful that this was offered to me and hope people can get the help they need. - anonymous student I thought this was good for me to take because it helped me think of what choices I have made and what choices I should later avoid. -anonymous student
Parent Feedback Our YScreen experience was positive and I recommend it for all parents. It s a great way to open dialogue with your child and start those hard conversations. - anonymous parent Even though it s tough to talk about, I m very glad my child had the opportunity for someone to listen to her to let them know how deeply she was hurting. YScreen is an excellent resource for kids and parents. -anonymous parent
School Staff Feedback I m so thankful that our students have the opportunity to participate in YScreen. Taking care of our emotional health is just as important as our yearly physical, dental exams, or eye doctor visits, yet so many people seem to be afraid to see how things are doing. The staff of YScreen are so easy to talk with that our students quickly discover that they have nothing to fear. -School Counselor YScreen is one of the most important tools available that we offer our freshman. It provides students the opportunity to assess a critical, and many times overlooked area of their personal health: their emotional well-being. I highly encourage all parents to have their children participate in this outstanding program. - Health Teacher
QUESTIONS?? Contact Information: Lindsey Bruins, MSW, APSW YScreen Program Coordinator 920-906-6700 ext.4705 bruinsl@fonddulac.k12.wi.us