Abstract
Implementing targeted (Tier 2) interventions for youth at risk of developing behavioral health concerns is critical for a comprehensive approach to school mental health. Given challenges in school-based implementation of targeted interventions, identifying factors associated with their implementation may contribute to a better understanding of contexts favorable to their delivery. Collaboration with community mental health centers (CMHCs), due to their capacity to share knowledge and resources with schools and facilitate alignment of Tier 2 interventions with other school-based prevention efforts, may be one factor that facilitates targeted intervention implementation. The current study tested the association between collaboration with CMHCs and the implementation of Tier 2 programs in 451 schools that completed Colorado Healthy Schools Smart Source, a comprehensive assessment of school health best practices. Items assessed whether schools collaborate with CMHCs and whether schools provide in-school curricular programs (Tier 2). A logistic regression model tested the association between collaboration with CMHCs and implementation of Tier 2 programs while controlling for the following covariates: having a wellness committee, a school-wide approach to social and emotional learning, in-school therapeutic services, as well as referrals for mental health services outside of school, and school counselor availability. Results demonstrated that schools collaborating with CMHCs were more than twice as likely to implement Tier 2 programs as those that did not.