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Currently, two pertinent needs with regard to mental health services within the education system are interrelated with the scope of the D.A.V. Centre at large. Within the communities being served by the Centre, emotional growth is often neglected for academic excellence. Consequently, emotional difficulties rarely are attended to in a timely or effective fashion. Additionally, learning disabilities, which are clearly distinct from intellectual shortcomings, as seen by a variety of psychometric testing tools, are rarely taken into consideration as a specific component related to academic performance.

The purpose of this program is to identify effective teaching practices, particularly in graduate level education. Specifically, the program is geared towards improving training in providing mental health services to children and adolescents. Mental health work with children and adolescents is qualitatively different than working with adults, and working effectively with families and schools is an essential component of this type of work. The purpose of such a program is to improve mental health services provided not just to the private sector but also to the public sector, especially in schools. The mission of this program is to improve the quality of mental health services provided within schools and increase their scope to go beyond a focus on academic performance. Additionally, the program will be used to identify the various needs of individual students and provide appropriate supports within the D.A.V. Centre, to ensure the emphasis on providing a nurturing and supportive environment for learning.

Specifically, this program hopes to improve, through training and research, the quality of mental health care provided to children within their school setting. We also aim to find alternative, holistic forms of treatment for emotional disorders in order to address the needs of a vulnerable population without further jeopardizing their health. Finally, we are interested in improving the diagnostic as well as support services offered to children with learning disabilities and helping classrooms implement these supports at an individualized and small group level. 

Introduction

The purpose of this program is to identify effective teaching practices, particularly in graduate level education. Specifically, the program is geared towards improving training in providing mental health services to children and adolescents. Often, mental health training programs focus on mental health work with adults, assuming that this can be geared towards children as well. Mental health work with children and adolescents, however, is qualitatively different and working effectively with families and schools is an essential component of this type of work. The purpose of such a program is to improve mental health services provided not just to the private sector but also to the public sector, especially in schools. The mission of this program is to improve the quality of mental health services provided within schools and increase their scope to go beyond a focus on academic performance. Additionally, the program will be used to identify the various needs of individual students and provide appropriate supports within the D.A.V. Centre, to ensure the emphasis on providing a nurturing and supportive environment for learning.

Needs/Problems

The two most pertinent needs with regard to mental health services within the education system are interrelated within the target population of the D.A.V. Centre at large. Within the communities being served by the Centre, emotional growth is often neglected for academic excellence. Consequently, emotional difficulties rarely are attended to in a timely fashion. Additionally, learning disabilities, which are clearly distinct from intellectual shortcomings, as seen by a variety of psychometric testing tools, are rarely taken into consideration as a specific component related to academic performance.

Within many developed nations, both of these issues are addressed, especially in impoverished populations with the use of drugs, as can be seen by the rising rates of prescriptions for not just amphetamine based drugs such as Adderol, but also for anti-depressants, and even, anti-psychotics. In developing nations, these difficulties often go undiagnosed at best. In more severe scenarios, children with learning disabilities or emotional disturbances are often seen as less capable and therefore subject to ridicule and shame. These can result in a variety of difficulties in the child ranging from poor self-esteem to severe depression.

Needless to say, neither drugs nor a blind eye to the problem at hand can be viable options when addressing the needs of such a vulnerable population. This program hopes to address these difficulties by researching alternative methods and more holistic practices. 

Goals/Objectives

The following goals and key benefits are listed below in order to address the needs stated above:

Goal 1: To improve, through training and research, the quality of mental health care provided to children within their school setting.

Goal 2: To find alternative, holistic forms of treatment for emotional disorders in order to address the needs of a vulnerable population without further jeopardizing their health

Goal 3: To improve the diagnostic as well as support services offered to children with learning disabilities and helping classrooms implement these supports at an individualized and small group level.

Procedures/Scope of Work

The procedures of the program are specifically related to the needs that will be addressed within each phase of the proposed work. Participants for research will be recruited by trained personnel to identify the needs within education systems more specifically. Using this information, mental health training services will be offered to individuals with a specific interest in working with children and families. Through continued training and educational tools presented at conferences and meetings globally, the program will address educators and mental health practitioners alike.

Evaluation

The program will be evaluated on an ongoing basis using the timeline created above and ensuring timely completion of projects. Progress will be closely monitored and results from research projects will be submitted to major journals and conferences.

Plan of Action:

For the duration of 2010 to 2013, referral services will be made for families and children with mental health needs to auxiliary services within the NYC metro area. These referrals will be based on the families’ fiscal and emotional needs and will aim to address their difficulties in a timely and efficacious manner. For the purposes of psychotherapy as well as psycho-educational evaluations, our prime referral will be made to Adelphi University's Clinic for Psychological Services in Manhattan. This clinic is serviced by Doctoral Candidates in Clinical Psychology who are trained by licensed supervisors. It is our aim to address these issues and consult with families within the D.A.V. Centre, from 2013 onwards.

During 2010, collaborative work with Adelphi University, Garden City, will be completed. Using the resources of Derner graduate as well as undergraduate students, D.A.V. Centre will aim to develop and conduct concrete research plans in keeping with our goals for improving mental health services within educational systems. The D.A.V. Centre will create fellowships as well as internships in order for students to conduct research and carry out doctoral and/or thesis work. To ensure the smooth exchange of creative ideas, the Centre will partner with faculty and administrative members at Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi's psychology program.