Date of Conferral

7-5-2024

Date of Award

July 2024

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Cherry Sawyerr

Abstract

It is important to address the concept of parental involvement in school-based mental health counseling in order to address the presence of mental health issues in students. In school-based mental health services, enlisting parent engagement in adolescent interventions can be difficult and can, therefore, inhibit positive adolescent mental health outcomes. This case study examined an educational organization in the southwestern United States to identify barriers inhibiting parent involvement in adolescent school-based mental health and to explore strategies to encourage parent engagement. The Baldrige performance excellence framework was utilized as a guide to inform an understanding of the organization’s mission, strategic planning, regulatory environment, and customer requirements as they combine to encourage parent engagement. Interviews were conducted with eight school-based mental health professionals in addition to a review of the organization’s policies and procedures regarding the provision of school-based mental health services. Several themes emerged from the study, which were analyzed to identify patterns, including parents' ignorance, stigma regarding mental health, language barriers, and miscommunication between the organization and the home. Potential implications for professional practice and positive social change include increased parent knowledge of available school-based mental health services offered at campuses, decreased stigma regarding mental health, and improved communication between parents and the organization, resulting in more parent awareness and support of their teens seeking out school-based mental health services.

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