Program Evaluation Activities: Outcomes Related to Treatment for Adolescents Receiving School-Based Mental Health Services

Abstract

Abstract School mental health programs have become a more prevalent setting for providing mental health services to adolescents. Evaluation of outcomes for these programs is lacking. The purpose of this research was to examine the relations among treatment goals, time in therapy, and change in behavioral and emotional functioning for adolescents receiving school-based mental health services, using student and clinician reports. Results indicated that both clinicians and students reported improved functioning for youth. Analyses indicated that students identified as having fewer treatment goals showed more progress than those with higher numbers of treatment goals. Girls reported more impairment in functioning than did boys. Father presence in the home and number of treatment goals were related to attrition.