Course Summary
Children spend more than half of their waking hours in school. When working with school-aged youth, it's important to consider how the support and services youth receive at school can complement their behavioral health goals. For behavioral health providers not familiar with how schools function, it may seem like there are numerous considerations and complexities to communication and collaboration with school staff. This course provides the knowledge and tools necessary to bridge the gap between community mental health providers and school staff, ultimately fostering better outcomes for students. At the end of this course, you will gain an understanding of the capacity and scope of school staff to offer support, as well as the specific resources and interventions available within the school setting.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify mental health gaps, assess needs, and develop strategies to address barriers to behavioral health and school services for youth in diverse communities.
- Describe the key federal and state laws impacting students' mental health services and their practical implications in school settings.
- Build strategies for effective communication and collaboration with school personnel, as well as when and how to appropriately engage with school-based staff to enhance student support and safety.
- Improve partnerships between families, community providers, and school-based supports.
Learning Audience
The learners for this training are behavioral health service providers, social workers, counselors, peer support specialists, and other professionals who support individuals with substance use and behavioral health conditions.
Continuing Education Credits
This course is eligible for Continued Education Units (CEU) upon completion, which are awarded as follows:
- 1 CEU credit awarded per (1) hour of completed learning
The University of Colorado is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The University of Colorado maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Questions about CE credits?
Course Duration
Content Contributors
- Bryn Harris, Ph.D., NCSP, LP. Professor / Faculty Fellow for Strategic Initiatives, Office of Faculty Affairs School of Education and Human Development & Department of Pediatrics (Developmental Pediatrics) University of Colorado Denver
- Ronald Lee, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist, Licensed School Psychologist, Licensed K-12 Principal
- Tripti Sharma, MA, LPC, I Matter Grant Specialist & Project AWARE Co-Coordinator, Behavioral Health Administration
