Mental Health Services Program, 1967 Report. ESEA [Elementary and Secondary Education Act] Title I Projects / Vivien Richman.

The Mental Health Services Program (MHS) was established in 1965 to provide services to schools including identification of emotionally disturbed children, treatment, training school personnel in mental health principles, and serving as a resource for a variety of problems. Six adjustment classes in elementary schools and six resource rooms in secondary schools were developed and supported by consultation conferences aimed at psychoeducational diagnoses and including teachers, a psychiatrist, and social workers. Crisis consultations were utilized to handle emergency cases. In the 1966-67 school year, 65 of the 400 crisis consultations concerned suicide; seminars with interested school personnel served 115 teachers, supervisors, and principals; and 727 children, aged 6 to 19, were referred to the program, 75 of whom were admitted to the adjustment classes and 225 to the resource programs. Aggressive behavior was the most frequent cause of referral. No significant differences in achievement, report card grades, citizenship, absence, or tardiness were found; out of 1,392 ratings by teachers on student behavior, relationship with other children and relationship with authority showed the highest percentage of improvement (69%) while conformity to school rules and participation in class activities were next (64%). Conclusions were that the program was a promising beginning toward meeting the mental health needs of students. (RJ)

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