Although more schools are offering mental health programs, few studies have involved the school community in research to improve their successful implementation. In this community partnered study, focus groups were conducted with school staff and parents to explore issues related to community engagement and feasibility of a mental health intervention for elementary school students exposed to trauma. Four educator focus groups, including 23 participants, and 2 parent focus groups, consisting of 9 Spanish-speaking and 7 English-speaking parents were conducted. Participants discussed facilitators and barriers to successful implementation of the program. Participants identified the importance of pre-implementation parent education, raising awareness of the impact of student mental health among educators, maintaining ongoing communication during the intervention, and addressing logistical concerns. Participants described clear considerations for parent and educator engagement both at the pre implementation phase and during implementation of the program. Implications for next steps of this community partnered approach are described. Exposure to traumatic events and interpersonal violence is a growing concern, 1-3 with estimates that 20 to 50% of American children are victims of trauma within their families, at school, and in their communities. 4 Recent studies suggest that 40% of 8-11 year old elementary school children reported having their life threatened 5 and 68% of adolescents have experienced at least one potentially traumatic experience in their lifetime 6 ranging from physical abuse, sexual abuse, and exposure to domestic or community violence. Moreover, children in vulnerable populations such as low-income urban youth and immigrant children have often been exposed to multiple traumatic events and secondary adversities. [7][8][9] Studies have documented the broad range of negative sequelae of trauma exposure for children, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 10-11 anxiety; 12-13 and depression 10,14 ). Further, trauma exposure is related to impairment in school functioning and more school absences; 15-16 decreased rates of high school graduation; 17 and aggressive and delinquent behavior. 18 Although not every child exposed to a traumatic event goes on to develop a psychological problem, there is little doubt that these experiences are harmful for many children. Schools, Access, and Mental Health DisparitiesDespite effective cognitive-behavioral interventions, many children are left untreated. Currently, only about 20% of children in need of mental health services are accessing these services. [23][24] Consistent with the Surgeon General's National Action Agenda for child mental health services, it is crucial to bring more evidence-based treatments into naturalistic settings such as schools to reduce mental health disparities and increase access to services. 25 Of those children currently accessing mental health services, three-fourths of them receive care through the education sector. 26 In...
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