REPORT
An Evaluation of the Palm Beach County Children's Behavioral Health Initiative
Julie Spielberger, Thomas Haywood, John Schuerman, Lisa Michels, Harold Richman
2005
These reports share the findings from a 4-year implementation and 3-year outcome evaluation of the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) in Palm Beach County, Fla., an effort providing schools with behavioral health professionals to identify social and emotional problems in young children and offer referral and follow-up services. Implementation data indicate that the CBHI program continued to be successfully implemented in the 2003-2004 school year. Behavioral Health Professionals reported satisfaction with working relationships and communication with children, parents, teachers, principals, and other school staff. School administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, and school nurses were positive about the effects of the program on school staff and children. Third-year child outcome data indicate that, consistent with previous years, children at CBHI schools had better attendance, a lower rate of discipline-related referrals and were less likely to be held back in a grade than children at comparison schools.