Consumer and provider perceptions of a school-based intensive mental health program

There is a critical need for more effective services to engage and provide treatment for children with SED and their families. School-based mental health services provide an opportunity to develop an effective model of treatment. Although assessment of consumer and professional perspectives is an important component in the development of these services, little research has been conducted in this area. This mixed-model exploratory study aimed to provide preliminary information about consumer and provider perceptions within the IMHP, an empirically supported school-based intensive mental health program for children with SED. Caregiver, youth, and provider satisfaction questionnaires were designed and utilized for this study, and preliminary results indicate adequate reliability and validity. Quantitative and qualitative information was utilized. Constructs underlying the questionnaires were based on research from the existing literature, and included therapeutic alliance, collaboration/involvement, treatment usefulness and effectiveness, and satisfaction. Results indicated that most of the caregivers and children had positive perceptions of all aspects of the IMHP. The results add support to the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance and collaboration. There was evidence that caregivers were treated as partners in treatment decisions and that youth also felt involved in their treatment. Consumers perceived a positive therapeutic alliance and this was related to many other satisfaction constructs. Providers' perceptions were mostly congruent with consumers' perceptions. Providers' responses were also related to each other for certain constructs. The teachers' perceptions were more strongly related to caregivers' perceptions, while therapists' perceptions were more strongly related to the children's perceptions. Consumers provided constructive comments about barriers and problems that can be utilized to improve services. Results also provide support for two of the IMHP's underlying principles, collaboration with everyone involved with the child and the importance of parental involvement in treatment.