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The opportunity gap has contributed to unequal educational opportunities and success among Black youth, college students, and early career professionals. The American Psychological Association, Association for Black Psychologists, and Academics for Black Survival and Wellness (A4BL) have called psychologists to act in support of Black lives in higher education. Most research and guidance on this topic are communicated in a siloed manner (e.g. content for multicultural psychology courses) and across single domains (e.g. teaching). However, closing the gap warrants widespread change at many levels, requiring psychology professors to have a "multifaceted impact simultaneously through their many roles." This article reviews (1) the opportunity gap in higher education and among early career psychologists; (2) psychology's contribution to this gap; (3) evidence-based strategies to address the gap in higher education and in training the next generation of psychologists; and (4) 1 psychology professor's multifaceted plan and actions in response to A4BL call to action including notable outcomes and lessons learned.

In this study, we (a) describe patterns of challenging student behaviors (classwide and for a target student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) and teacher behaviors (i.e., praise, commands, and responses to challenging behavior) in kindergarten through Grade 5 classrooms, (b) examine the relations between these behaviors, and (c) describe a threshold of teacher behaviors most associated with low levels of challenging student behavior. Participants were 55 teachers observed using a modified version of the Student Behavior Teacher Response (SBTR) system. Across grades, there was variability in rates of classwide challenging behavior per hour (M = 35.81 to 102.62) and rates of praise per hour (M = 10.90 to 37.70). The percentage of challenging behaviors to which teachers responded appropriately was generally low (M = 27% to 47%) and stable across grades. For classwide challenging behavior, higher percentages of appropriate teacher response were significantly associated with lower rates of challenging behavior (b = -0.43; p < 0.01), but effective commands and labeled praise were not. Classwide challenging behaviors dropped to 30 per hour once teachers reach a threshold of 51% appropriate response, with little incremental benefit at higher levels. Implications for professional development and future study of behavior management practices are discussed.

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often do not receive the standard of care which includes behavioral and pharmacological treatment. Understanding characteristics associated with treatment-seeking may inform ADHD assessment and treatment practices. This study used the ADHD Help-Seeking Behavior model to explore predictors of behavioral (parent training, classroom behavior management) and pharmacological treatment-seeking following a child's ADHD diagnosis. Parents (N = 171) seeking an ADHD evaluation for their child (ages 7–12 years) and teachers completed ratings at various time-points. Following feedback, where diagnosis and treatment recommendations were provided, caregivers completed questionnaires regarding treatment-seeking initiation. The majority (91.1%) reported seeking treatment. Most reported seeking pharmacological treatment (MED; 82.9%), with fewer seeking behavioral parent training (BPT; 33.9%) or classroom behavior management (CBM; 70.7%). Treatment-seeking predictors varied by treatment modality. Higher parenting stress, agreement with the ADHD diagnosis, and knowledge of ADHD were significant independent predictors of seeking BPT. Greater child externalizing behaviors were a significant independent predictor of seeking CBM. Higher child ADHD inattention, parenting stress, and the parent not having ADHD were significant independent predictors of MED. These results may inform discussion points in communicating diagnostic feedback and treatment recommendations. Clinicians may improve BPT uptake by providing ADHD psychoeducation, thus promoting knowledge and an understanding of the diagnosis. Likewise, inquiring about parental attitudes and experiences with medication among caregivers diagnosed with ADHD may increase MED uptake for children. These results add to the literature indicating that ADHD treatment-seeking is a complex, nuanced process and set the stage for future studies exploring help-seeking behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the utility and incremental validity of parent ratings on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Disruptive Behavior Disorders rating scale completed at kindergarten registration in identifying risk status as defined by important criterion variables (teacher ratings, daily behavioral performance, and quarterly grades). The participants were 252 kindergarten students from one school district. Receiver operating characteristic analyses and area-under-the-curve values indicated that most subscales had low to moderate utility in identifying children showing at-risk academic performance and social, emotional, and behavioral problems. However, forward linear regression analyses indicated that parent ratings provided incremental validity relative to the academic screening tool used by the school district, accounting for an additional 3.69% to 22.37% of the variance in kindergarten outcomes. Implications for the use of parent ratings in universal screening for social, emotional, and behavioral problems at kindergarten entry are discussed.

In this pilot study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a school-based engagement intervention on parent adherence to recommendations for children screened for social, emotional, behavioral, and adaptive problems at kindergarten entry. The aims were to evaluate the impact of an enhanced feedback session on parents' adherence to service-engagement recommendations, compared to a standard feedback session, and to examine predictors of adherence to recommendations. Parent and teacher reports of the behavior assessment system for children, second edition, were used to screen children (N = 597). Parents of children identified as at risk for social, emotional, behavioral, and adaptive problems were randomized to the standard or enhanced feedback condition. Results offer preliminary evidence that the school-based engagement strategy following the screening resulted in increased parent adherence to sharing screening results with medical doctors. Analyses also revealed that after controlling for feedback condition, parents' previous service use predicted adherence to the recommendation of sharing screening results with the teachers. These findings highlight the importance of continued examination of school-based engagement interventions for families in the early stages of seeking mental health services.

The majority of youth with mental health problems do not receive treatment, highlighting the critical need to transport evidence-based interventions into community settings, such as schools. Despite being able to reach a large number of adolescents and minority youth, the process of implementing evidence-based interventions to schools is challenging. This paper discusses some expected and unexpected challenges experienced during the implementation of an open trial and a pilot randomized controlled trial examining the acceptability and effectiveness of a school-based preventive intervention for adolescents at risk for internalizing disorders. First, we highlight key programs and findings on preventive interventions for adolescents at risk for depression and anxiety. Next, we provide a brief overview of the preventive intervention we implemented in schools. This provides a context for the section that describes implementation issues and highlights specific challenges and potential solutions for intervention implementation. Finally, the paper offers recommendations for researchers and clinicians interested in implementing school-based mental health services for adolescents. • School-based, preventive intervention for adolescents at risk for depression and anxiety • School-based prevention intervention processes involved in implementation • Specific challenges and potential solutions given for issues involved in implementation • Recommendations for implementing school-based mental health services for adolescents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component consultation package in improving teachers' classroom management skills, particularly among teachers with lower baseline levels of knowledge, skills, and intervention-supportive beliefs. Participants were 58 elementary school teachers (93% female; 50% non-Hispanic White) who received up to eight biweekly consultation sessions focused on general classroom management strategies and implementation of a daily report card intervention with one target student with or at risk of ADHD. Teachers were randomly assigned to either a comparison consultation condition designed to mirror current best practices (Frank & Kratochwill, in: Erchul, Sheridan (eds) Handbook of research in school consultation, Routledge, New York, 2014; Noell & Gansle, in: Erchul, Sheridan (eds) Handbook of research in school consultation, Routledge, New York, 2014) or a multi-component condition designed to simultaneously address teacher knowledge, skills, and beliefs as possible barriers to implementation of classroom interventions. Teachers in both conditions showed significant improvements in labeled praise, appropriate response to student rule violations, and general competence in classroom management. In support of the hypotheses, teachers with lower baseline levels of knowledge, skills, and intervention-supportive beliefs demonstrated more improvement in key outcomes in response to multi-component consultation, as compared to the comparison consultation (Cohen's d ranged from 0.33 to 1.12). Implications for research and practice in school consultation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined anxiety and depressive symptoms in relation to the social functioning of young adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and builds upon prior work by incorporating youths' self-reports of internalizing symptoms and examining distinct anxiety and depression dimensions to increase specificity. Participants were 310 young adolescents (ages 10–14; 71% male, 78% Caucasian) diagnosed with ADHD. Youth provided ratings of anxiety/depression, and parents provided ratings of their own depression. Parents and youth both reported on youths' social skills and perceived social acceptance. Path analyses indicated that above and beyond child demographics, ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder symptom severity, and parents' own depression, self-reported social anxiety and anhedonia were both associated with lower youth-reported social skills and both parent- and youth-reported social acceptance. Negative self-evaluation was associated with poorer parent-reported social skills. Finally, harm avoidance waspositivelyassociated with both youth- and parent-reported social skills. A path analysis using comorbid diagnoses (rather than symptom dimensions) indicated that that having a comorbid disruptive behavior disorder or depression diagnosis (but not a comorbid anxiety diagnosis) was associated with poorer parent-reported social functioning. Results demonstrate that the relation between internalizing symptoms and social functioning among young adolescents with ADHD is nuanced, with social anxiety and anhedonia symptoms associated with lower social skills and social acceptance in contrast to harm avoidance being associated with higher ratings of social skills (and unrelated to social acceptance). In terms of comorbid diagnoses, depression is more clearly related than anxiety to poorer social functioning among young adolescents with ADHD. These results point to the importance of attending to specific facets of anxiety and depression in clinical care and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Low-income parents oft en seek help from pediatricians for early childhood social-emotional problems but seldom follow through with referrals to behavioral health services. Objective. We sought to understand low-income parents' experiences seeking help from pediatricians for social-emotional problems and how those experiences influenced decisions about accessing behavioral health services. Methods. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with low-income parents with concerns about their children's behavior or emotions. Participants were asked about experiences seeking help from pediatricians and decision-making about accessing behavioral health services. Results. Three themes emerged: (1) Participants described reluctance to recognize social-emotional problems, which was often reinforced by doctors' reassurance. (2) Participants reported pediatricians did not meet their expectations about testing, providing explanations/advice, or addressing behavior on-site. (3) Participants had unclear expectations of behavioral health services. Conclusions. Primary care mechanisms that reliably educate parents about behavioral trajectories and the role of behavioral health providers may improve follow-up rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined help-seeking and perceived barriers to children's mental health service utilization in a large sample of parents living in rural communities who are at various stages in the help-seeking process. The goals were to (a) obtain a demographic profile of at-risk kindergarteners and their parents, (b) examine parent-reported help-seeking behaviors, and (c) assess barriers to mental health service use. Parent and teacher report of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, were used to screen children (N = 597) at kindergarten entry and to identify their risk status. Parents also completed the Barriers to Participation Scale and reported the frequency of help-seeking behaviors related to their child's problems. Using a cutoff score of 1.5 standard deviations above the mean, nearly half (51%) of children were identified as at-risk (76% low risk, 24% high risk) for emotional, behavioral, social, and adaptive problems. Barriers and help-seeking did not differ across parents of low and high risk children. Among parents of at-risk children, only 33% believed their child had a problem. Parents sought informal help more often than professional help; however, medical doctors and school staff were sought most among professionals. The majority of parents (61%) endorsed at least one barrier that would interfere with mental health service use. Results highlight the importance of early school mental health screening and the need for interventions to increase parent problem recognition and engagement in mental health service utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this manuscript is to highlight the Unified Protocol for the Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Adolescents (UP-A) as an exemplar model of a principle-based, flexible treatment for adolescents with either depressive or anxiety disorders. The theoretical basis, mechanism of change, and research support for three of the UP-A's guiding treatment principles are presented. Verbal exchanges between UP-A therapists and adolescent clients are shared to demonstrate clinical processes related to UP-A techniques that follow such guiding principles. The benefits of this approach to treatment are discussed, including reduction in the number of evidence-based treatment manuals to be learned, administered, and supervised. The UP-A has demonstrated positive outcomes, yet further examination of clinical process variables is warranted. These clinical process variables and additional future directions for the UP-A are addressed., ((c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.)

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Homework, Organization, and Planning Skills (HOPS) intervention for middle school students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as implemented by school mental health (SMH) providers using a randomized trial design. Seventeen SMH providers from five school districts implemented the HOPS intervention. Forty-seven middle school students with ADHD (grades 6-8) were randomly assigned to receive the HOPS intervention or to a waitlist comparison group. Parent and teacher ratings of organizational skills and homework problems were collected pre- and post-intervention and at a 3-monoth follow-up, and school grades were also collected. Intervention participants demonstrated significant improvements relative to the waitlist comparison across parent-rated organized action ( d = .88), materials management ( d = .63), planning ( d = 1.05), and homework completion behaviors ( d = .85). Intervention participants did not make significant improvements relative to the comparison group according to teacher ratings. SMH providers were able to implement the HOPS intervention with fidelity despite the fact that no formal ongoing consultation was provided.