|
|
|
|
|
Jacqueline F. Byers, PhD, RN, CNAA1, Ana M. Leon, PhD, LCSW2, Nancy Ellis, MSW3, Shellene Mazany, LCSW3, and Xiaohu Wang, PhD4. (1) School of Nursing, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162210, Orlando, FL 32816-2210, (407) 823-6311, jbyers@mail.ucf.edu, (2) Social Work, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162210, Orlando, FL 31816, (3) Winter Park Health Foundation, 1870 Aloma Avenue Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789, (4) Public Administration, University of Central Florida, PO Box 162210, Orlando, FL 32816
The Winter Park Health Foundation funds the Community Help and Intervention in Life’s Lessons (CHILL) counseling program in Winter Park, FL schools in order to promote individual and aggregate positive psychosocial functioning. Program evaluation data on the effectiveness of this program for the 2001-2004 academic years will be presented. Program evaluation methods included descriptive measures, repeated measures data collection and group comparisons. Anger was the most common problem identified by the CHILL staff, followed by divorce, family dysfunction, anxiety, grief and loss and children of substance abusers for 2001-2003. The relationship of CHILL interventions on psychosocial functioning, academic performance and school behaviors will be described and compared to other student groups. The increase in the mental health measure of Global Assessment of Functioning scores over time for 2002-2003 were statistically significant for all groups (all CHILL, elementary, middle, and high school), similar to 2001-2002. The most frequent issues, i.e. anger, depression, low self-esteem and poor family relations sustain across all school levels. However, the frequency of mood swings and poor peer relations decreased in middle and high school. Challenges to provision of mental health services within a school setting will be discussed as well as next steps to promoting individual and community mental health, including future linkages to the school nursing program and healthy school teams in order to provide comprehensive model for school health programs.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Mental Health Services
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Winter Park Health Foundation
Orange County Public Schools
University of Central Florida
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.