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Understanding Integrated Mental Health Services in Head Start: Staff Perspectives on Mental Health Consultation
- Source :
-
NHSA Dialog . 2004 7(1):35-60. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Despite mandates for Head Start programs to provide mental health services to families and children, considerable variability remains in the level and type of services provided by mental health consultants. A qualitative study was conducted to explore staff perceptions about the role of mental health consult- ants and, in particular; the ways in which consultants are (or are not) integrated into the day-to-day functioning of Head Start programs. Programs with integrated mental health models were characterized by strong positive relationships between consultants and program staff; perceptions that the consultant was "part of the team," and involvement of the consultant in a wide variety of program activities and components. Results suggested that programs with such an integrated mental health model were more likely (compared to those with a more traditional consultant model) to report a strong, unified vision for mental health services, to describe a mental health approach consistent with current promising practices, and to perceive their mental health services to be more effective. (Contains 2 tables and 4 footnotes.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1524-0754
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- NHSA Dialog
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ937492
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Evaluative
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s19309325nhsa0701_5