Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Commentary: Implementing Empirically Supported Treatments in the Schools: What Are We Asking?

  • Published:
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

The research reported in this special issue addresses important areas for the continued development of empirically supported school-based treatments. Although advances in the development and evaluation of treatment services have occurred, there is little public demand for the widespread dissemination of these treatments. In this commentary, the authors draw data from historical examples, related research, and personal experience to demonstrate the need to create a societal mandate for change. They present specific implications for future areas of research and the type of public education and marketing campaign that will be needed to create a demand for empirically supported school-based treatments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ennett, S. T., Tobler, N. S., Ringwalt, C. L., & Flewelling, R. L. (1994). How effective is drug abuse resistance education? A meta-analysis of Project DARE outcome evaluations. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 1394–1401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S. W. (1999). Mental health services in schools: Utilization, effectiveness, and consent. Clinical Psychology Review, 19, 165–178.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, S. W., Langberg, J., & Williams, J. (2003). Treatment generalization in school-based mental health. In M. D. Weist, S. W. Evans, & N. A. Lever (Eds.), Handbook of school mental health: Advancing practice and research. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graczyk, P. A., Domitrovich, C. E., & Zins, J. E. (2003). Facilitating the implementation of evidence-based prevention and mental health promotion efforts in schools. In M. D. Weist, S. W. Evans, & N. A. Lever (Eds.), Handbook of school mental health: Advancing practice and research. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. T., Domitrovich, C. E., & Bumbarger, B. (2001). The prevention of mental disorders in school-aged children: Current state of the field. Prevention and Treatment, 4, Article 1. Retrieved September 15, 2004, from http:// journals.apa.org/prevention/volume4/pre/0040001a.html

  • Henggeler, S. W., Melton, G. B., Brondino, M. J., Scherer, D. G., & Hanley, J. H. (1997). Multisystemic therapy with violent and chronic juvenile offenders and their families: The role of treatment fidelity in successful dissemination. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 821–833.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbard, J. H., & Jewett, J. J. (1997). Will quality report cards help consumers? Health Affairs, 16, 218–228.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoagwood, K., Burns, B. J., Kiser, L., Ringeisen, H., & Schoenwald, S. (2001). Evidence-based practice in child and adolescent mental health services. Psychiatric Services, 52(9), 1179–1189.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, N. S., & Truax, P. (1991). Clinical significance: A statistical approach to defining meaningful change in psychotherapy research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 12–19.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lynam, D. R., Milich, R., Zimmerman, R., Novak, S. P., Logan, T. K., Martin, C., et al. (1999). Project Dare: No effects at 10-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 590–593.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon, D. P., Chernew, M., & Lave, J. R. (1997). Consumer health choice: Current knowledge and future directions. Annual Review of Public Health, 18, 507–528.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon, D. P., Chernew, M., McLaughlin, C., & Solon, G. (2002). The impact of health plan report cards on managed care enrollment. Journal of Health Economics, 21, 19–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, F. L. (1996). Statistical significance: Testing and cumulative knowledge in psychology: Implications for training and researchers. Psychological Methods, 1, 115–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shernoff, E. S., Kratochwill, T. R., & Stoiber, K. C. (2003). Training in evidence-based interventions (EBIs): What are school psychology programs teaching? Journal of School Psychology, 41, 467–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures. (1995). Training in and dissemination of empirically-validated psychological treatments: Report and recommendations. The Clinical Psychologist, 48, 3–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tumlinson, A., Bottigheimer, H., Mahoney, P., Stone, E. M., & Hendricks, A. (1997). Choosing a health plan: What information will consumers use? Health Affairs, 16, 229–238.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wedig, G. J., & Tai-Seale, M. (2002). The effect of report cards on consumer choice in the health insurance market. Journal of Health Economics, 21, 1031–1048.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, B., Catron, T., Harris, V., & Phung, T. M. (1999). The effectiveness of traditional child psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 82–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weist, M. D. (2002). Challenges and opportunities in moving toward a public health approach in school mental health. Journal of School Psychology, 353, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weist, M. D., Myers, C. P., Hastings, E., Ghuman, H., & Han, Y. (1999). Psychosocial functioning of youth receiving mental health services in the schools vs. community mental health centers. Community Mental Health Journal, 35, 69–81.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weist, M. D., Sander, M. A., Lever, N. A., Link, B., Christodulu, K. V., Rosner, L. E., et al. (2002). Advancing the quality agenda in expanded school mental health. Emotional & Behavioral Disorders in Youth, 2, 59–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisz, J. R., Donenberg, G. R., Han, S. S., & Weiss, B. (1995). Bridging the gap between laboratory and clinic in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 688–701.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westen, D., Novotny, C. M., & Thompson-Brenner, H. (2004). The empirical status of empirically supported psychotherapies: Assumptions, findings, and reporting in controlled clinical trials. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 631–663.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven W. Evans.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Evans, S.W., Weist, M.D. Commentary: Implementing Empirically Supported Treatments in the Schools: What Are We Asking?. Clin Child and Fam Psychol Rev 7, 263–267 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-004-6090-0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-004-6090-0

Navigation