Overcoming challenges in outcome evaluations of school mental health programs

Abstract

Significant growth and improvement of school mental health programs has occurred in recent years. However, evaluation of outcomes for children receiving these services is needed to provide accountability data and ensure the sustainability of these programs. When designing studies, evaluators must overcome several challenges that may threaten the validity of their conclusions. In this paper, threats or challenges to the internal and external validity of results from evaluation studies are reviewed. Suggestions are provided for overcoming these challenges, in order to encourage future evaluation activities in this developing field and to document the impact of services for youth and their families.