Journal of Rural Mental Health, Vol 50(4), Oct 2026, 201-213; doi:10.1037/rmh0000339
Rural youth face significant barriers to accessing behavioral health services, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, and stigma. To address these disparities, a community behavioral health agency partnered with a rural school district in the southeastern United States to implement a school-based mental health program, funded by the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. This summative program evaluation examined program outcomes over a 3-year period, assessing service utilization, student well-being using the Daily Living Activities-20, and stakeholder feedback from students, caregivers, and school staff. The program served 261 students across 12 schools, resulting in increased engagement among elementary students and a statistically significant improvement in student functioning, as indicated by pre- and post-Daily Living Activities-20 scores. Surveys indicated high satisfaction with service accessibility and impact. While fidelity to assessment protocols varied, the initiative demonstrated a promising, replicable model for integrating behavioral health services within rural school settings. Findings underscore the potential of school–mental health partnerships to reduce service gaps and inform future rural education and behavioral health policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)