Iowa BEST: Behavioral, Equitable, Social-Emotional, Trauma-Informed Health in Sc

Supporting students’ mental health in school settings may require a referral to an external agency. Previous research on referral processes, particularly those involving the experiences of school counselors, documents the challenges associated with referral processes. Findings from Lemberger et. al’s (2010) study indicated that referrals are needed for a variety of reasons, including the need for expertise outside of the professional’s competence or duties, not having enough time to effectively support the student’s needs, or due to an in-school intervention not working, among other reasons. More noteworthy, however, is that several of the study’s participants indicated that they were isolated in their referral decisions, having no support from their respective schools or districts on when or how to make referral decisions. As such, this presentation aims to demystify referral processes, drawing on important resources, such as the MTSS (Multitiered System of Support) framework, the AWARE Iowa School Mental Health framework, and the Missouri School Counselor’s Guide to the Referral Process to offer a defined sequence of steps (and resources) for referrals. Further, we will explore strategies for monitoring the effectiveness of the referral through coordination.