Schools often serve as one of the most important institutions that address children’s mental health needs, particularly in rural areas of the country, where schools are often one of the only places where children’s mental health services are provided.

According to the Surgeon General’s office, 20% of children need active mental health interventions, and 16% experience functional impairment due to mental health (US Dept HHS, 2000). Yet families struggle to meet these needs independently due to socioeconomic constraints; lack of insurance coverage; stigma, limited access to accurate mental health information, and the lack of available resources. As a result, schools are the primary providers of mental health services for many children (Hoagwood, Erwin, 1997). Yet there is a severe shortage of school mental health personnel.