Abstract
This study examined a model for mental health consultation, training and support designed to enhance the benefits of publicly-funded
recreational after-school programs in communities of concentrated urban poverty for children’s academic, social, and behavioral
functioning. We assessed children’s mental health needs and examined the feasibility and impact of intervention on program
quality and children’s psychosocial outcomes in three after-school sites (n = 15 staff, 89 children), compared to three demographically-matched sites that received no intervention (n = 12 staff, 38 children). Findings revealed high staff satisfaction and feasibility of intervention, and modest improvements
in observed program quality and staff-reported children’s outcomes. Data are considered with a public health lens of mental
health promotion for children in urban poverty.
recreational after-school programs in communities of concentrated urban poverty for children’s academic, social, and behavioral
functioning. We assessed children’s mental health needs and examined the feasibility and impact of intervention on program
quality and children’s psychosocial outcomes in three after-school sites (n = 15 staff, 89 children), compared to three demographically-matched sites that received no intervention (n = 12 staff, 38 children). Findings revealed high staff satisfaction and feasibility of intervention, and modest improvements
in observed program quality and staff-reported children’s outcomes. Data are considered with a public health lens of mental
health promotion for children in urban poverty.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-012-0432-x
- Authors
- Stacy L. Frazier, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 155, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
- Tara G. Mehta, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 155, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
- Marc S. Atkins, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 155, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
- Kwan Hur, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 155, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
- Dana Rusch, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 155, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X