| dc.description.abstract | This capstone project examines the challenges faced by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) in promoting student mental health and wellness within the State's educational system. Despite various programs and grant funding opportunities, frontline personnel in schools report inadequate resources to meet student needs. The study employed two conceptual frameworks, the Comprehensive Student Mental Health System (CSMHS) and sensegiving/sensemaking for scaling statewide initiatives. Data collection and analysis involved document reviews, interviews, surveys, and focus groups to explore the perceptions of local education administrations (LEAs), the needs and challenges they face in implementing mental health initiatives, and recommendations to enhance student mental health.
The key findings highlight issues related to resource accessibility, inconsistent adoption of mental health models, limited comprehensive needs assessments, and the varying priorities of LEAs. To address these challenges, the project offers recommendations across several areas, including creating a comprehensive strategy, aligning services with the Multi-Tiered, Multi-Domain System of Supports (MTMDSS), updating resources, and adopting a school mental health evaluation framework. It also emphasizes the importance of funding, legislative support, and the development of a Learning Collaboratives for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.
These recommendations aim to improve the support and resources available to schools, ultimately enhancing the mental well-being of Indiana's students and facilitating their success within the educational system. | |
