How do educators and mental health professionals work more effectively together?
Integrate with and follow the lead of student support staff in the schools who already have expertise bridging the education and mental health gap Understand and appreciate each others’ language and systems Recognize where fundamental concepts are similar but words are different (i.e., the strong skill of educators to task analyze is similar to clinicians’ ability to assess what skills an individual needs to develop) Make the most of the shared value of strong positive relationships with children Work towards a common functional language that describes specific behaviors that could be early warning signs of mental health concerns Develop and tailor recommendations and interventions that are attuned to the realities of the educational environment Develop educational environments that support the social/emotional development and well being of all students, as well as early intervention strategies and resources These are beginning steps and are more easily said than done, but they will he
