Background: Engagement of individuals with an intellectual disability and their caregivers in health care has been highlighted as an essential factor in developing services that better meet client needs; however, few studies have focused on the engagement of individuals with a dual diagnosis (intellectual disability co-occurring with a mental…

Adaptive behavior, self-determination, and health are important areas of body functions and activities identified by autistic adults as priorities for research. Past research has suggested that autistic adults have high support needs in adaptive behavior and self-determination, and have poor physical and mental health outcomes. This study included…

Medicaid is the fourth largest federal funding source for K-12 schools, supporting over $7.5 billion of school-based health services every year. If Congress cuts Medicaid, states -- and school districts -- will receive less funding. This will force states and local communities to increase taxes and reduce or eliminate various programs and…

School-based mental health professionals are uniquely positioned to provide equity-based and culturally responsive social-emotional support for refugee students (NASP, 2019; Rumsey et al., 2018; Stewart, 2014). Research on social-emotional interventions for refugee students is limited, and it remains unclear whether these interventions address…

Children with autism spectrum disorder are at higher risk for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). They are also more vulnerable to sleep problems and are less likely to obtain the recommended number of hours of sleep than neurotypical children. In the general population, ACEs have been linked to future sleep difficulties. Despite increased…

Objective: This article examines impacts of student resilience, school climate, and barriers to mental health care on problematic drinking behavior and cannabis use among rural university students. Participants: A total of 948 students from a public university in a southeastern state that completed the 2019-2020 Healthy Minds Study. Methods:…

This study sought to characterize caregiver concerns for autistic children receiving care in two public service systems--schools and mental health programs--and to identify child and family characteristics associated with these concerns. Caregivers of 353 school-age autistic children in mental health services (n = 192) or schools (n = 161) named,…

Background: ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. While much is known about the functional and academic impacts of ADHD, impacts on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are less well-documented. Aims: To explore, in children aged 4 to 17 years, associations between clinical ADHD symptoms and (1) children's HRQoL; (2)…

Every year, millions of children are bereaved due to death of loved ones, with some children being orphaned. Bereavement can have a significant impact on children's psychosocial functioning and academic performance. However, studies on school-based psychosocial interventions for bereaved children are limited. The current scoping review aimed to…

Given that autistic children are hospitalized at higher rates than neurotypical peers, it is important to understand the autism-specific preparedness of healthcare providers. Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) play a crucial role in pediatric hospitalizations by providing socioemotional support and coping strategies. The present study…

Background: The current study explored the perspectives of staff working with adults with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge. We sought insight into their understanding of procedural fidelity and challenges faced when implementing behaviour support. Method: We interviewed 15 staff members supporting adults with intellectual…

Examining self-reported problems of students receiving school mental health (SMH) services holds promise for informing strategies across all tiers of school support. However, no prior research has investigated students' self-reported needs. The current study coded open-ended youth problem statements (N = 1212) from a diverse sample of 455 students…

Research suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) profoundly affect multiple aspects of childhood development. The present study endeavors to elucidate the impact of ACEs on critical school-related outcomes within the areas of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, academics, and school disciplinary measures. Utilizing a…

Background: School-based mental health services, particularly when integrated into multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), offer an evidence-based strategy for primary and secondary prevention and targeted intervention for students' mental health challenges. Team-based decision-making is at the center of successful MTSS, but the mental health…

School nurses (SNs) practicing in DC public and public charter schools were surveyed to assess their perceived role and self-reported preparation to provide behavioral health prevention, early identification, and treatment services in schools. A total of 154 SNs completed a questionnaire about their role in the delivery of behavioral health…