Effectively Supporting Youth with Chronic Illness in Schools: External Partnerships and Training Recommendations

Abstract

Across Western countries, approximately 15% to 20% of school-aged children and adolescents have a health-related disorder, with incidence rates of childhood chronic health conditions (CHCs) increasing. This contribution comprehensively reviews disease-level, school-level, and systems-level issues related to effectively supporting children with CHCs succeed from both psychosocial and educational perspectives. This article also delineates training needs as they pertain to graduate preparation and/or professional development to equip school personnel to appropriately address students' needs. The article concludes with recommendations for evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies and potential avenues for interdisciplinary collaboration and models of coordinated care for these medically compromised youth.

Keywords: Academic functioning; Behavioral health; Childhood chronic health conditions; Interdisciplinary collaboration; School; School performance; School personnel; Socioemotional health.