The preparation of school psychologists for crisis intervention

School psychologists (N = 276, 81% return rate) were surveyed regarding the following aspects of crisis intervention: (a) university preparation, (b) continuing professional development, and (c) current involvement with school crisis plans and crisis teams. Of those receiving university training, 58% believed they were minimally prepared or not at all prepared to deal with school crises. Only 2% reported being well prepared or very well prepared. Data analyses indicated increased university training in recent years, particularly with practicum/internship experiences related to crisis intervention. Approximately 81% of school psychologists participated in local training for crisis intervention as part of continuing professional development. Although 91% of school psychologists worked in districts with crisis plans in place, only 53% participated on crisis teams. Suicide, violence, and school district crisis plans were recommended as high priority topics for future academic training. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Crisis prevention and intervention: A survey of school psychologists

A random sample of 197 practicing school psychologists who were members of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) completed a survey questionnaire on experiences and perceptions with regard to school crisis preparedness, prevention, and intervention. Respondents indicated having the most direct experience with student–student physical assaults, serious illness or injury of students, unexpected students deaths, suicide attempts, and guns or other weapons at school. School psychologists reported that their schools used a wide variety of prevention and intervention strategies, most of which have been advocated in the literature. Respondents reported being most involved in the implementation of crisis prevention and intervention strategies and less involved in development and evaluation. Results and implications are discussed within the context of empirically supported practices and school psychologists' readiness to assume larger roles in crisis prevention and intervention. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 777–788, 2004.     

Educational psychologists and children in care: practices and issues

The aims of this study were to examine the extent and nature of educational psychologist (EP) work related to children in care in five local authority educational psychology services in the south‐west region. The study involved an initial internet‐based questionnaire for the 107 EPs in these services (86% response rate), followed up by in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with four EPs in each service. This paper reports some of the findings from this study that show the range of EP work and their roles in regard to children in care. It also examines the kinds of issues and tensions experienced by EPs in their multi‐agency work with regards to children in care. The paper concludes with a brief summary of relevant recommendations arising from the findings.     

The identification of alienated parents and children: Implications for school psychologists

This study sought to determine which factors associated with parents and children were the best predictors of parental alienation. The levels of alienation of parents of 49 students in two selected fourth-grade classrooms in a Midwestern urban school district were assessed using the Dean Alienation Scale. The levels of parental alienation were compared with parent and child variable. High levels of alienation were associated with single, unemployed female parents, whose child was a female with few perceived friends. The degree of alienation was not related to the race, achievement, or attendance of the student. However, a weighted combination of the 12 variables was significant in terms of predicting the parental level of alienation.     

Suicide intervention: Training,roles, and knowledge of school psychologists

Practitioner‐members of the National Association of School Psychologists (N = 162) completed questionnaires regarding their suicide prevention and postvention roles, training, preparedness, and knowledge. Most were crisis team members, yet less than one‐half reported graduate training in suicide risk assessment and less than one‐fourth in postvention. Compared to nondoctoral‐level practitioners, doctoral‐trained practitioners felt better prepared to handle suicidal students. Most respondents had participated in a suicide risk assessment in the past 2 years, with few using standardized measures. Performance was moderately strong on questions about knowledge of risk factors, warning signs, and appropriate steps to respond to a suicidal student, but respondents showed less familiarity with postvention recommendations intended to discourage contagion. Training suggestions were identified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 157–170, 2007.     

Utilizing the convergence of data for expedited evaluations: Guidelines for school psychologists

The purpose of this article is to propose that a combined response to intervention (RTI)‐psychoeducational assessment model be used for expedited evaluations required during disciplinary proceedings [Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1415(k)(5)(D)(ii)]. An expedited evaluation would determine if the child had a disability requiring special education or related services prior to considering disciplinary sanctions. The usefulness of the academic and behavioral data generated by RTI in the expedited evaluation is demonstrated. The IDEA requirements for expedited evaluations are overviewed, and case study examples are presented. Guidelines to assist school psychologists and child study teams in converging both RTI and psychoeducational assessment data in the expedited evaluation are offered. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Life satisfaction in children and youth: Empirical foundations and implications for school psychologists

A central component of positive psychology is subjective well‐being (SWB). One facet of SWB receiving increased research attention is children's perceived quality of life (PQOL). Existing research related to child and youth PQOL is reviewed, followed by a discussion of the implications of the research for school psychology practice. Research with children and adolescents reveals that PQOL has a wide ranging nomological network including personality, environmental, and activity variables. Furthermore, PQOL appears to mediate relationships between the environmental experiences of youth and problem behavior. Implications are discussed within the context of calls for greater attention by school psychologists to prevention, non‐traditional assessment, direct service, consultation with teachers and parents, diversity issues, and the science‐practice connection. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 81–93, 2004.     

Efficacy of an early intervention education program for moderately handicapped infants

This paper focuses on the evaluation of special education services for handicapped infants. The research question posed is whether early intervention programming results in reduced need for specialized services when children are age-eligible for elementary school. The primary focus of the paper is the development of a predictive model which may be useful in assessing the efficacy of early intervention services. The predictive model is applied using longitudinal data from a small sample of moderately handicapped infants. The preliminary findings support the contention that earlier intervention results in a lessened need for special education services in subsequent years. The paper also discusses the benefit-cost issues related to the efficacy question under investigation.     

Characteristics of children referred to school psychologists: A discriminant analysis

This study compared characteristics of 114 elementary school children of average intelligence who had been referred for psychological services with 120 children of average intelligence who had not been referred. Variables included, sex, relative age, race, socioeconomic status, familial stability, achievement test scores, and intraschool factors. At the primary level, significant differences were found between the groups in terms of sex and relative age. Boys were referred 4 times as frequently as girls, and 16 times as many boys within the relatively youngest group were referred as girls within the oldest group. The total groups were successfully discriminated using math achievement, sex, race, and father of the same name in the household. The variables that best discriminated the primary level groups included sex, relative age, father with the same name in the household, and having attended the same school the previous year. Implications and possible preventative measures are discussed.     

Comprehensive school-linked services: Implications for school psychologists

This article reviews the primary concepts underlying the current movement toward the provision of comprehensive school-linked services for children and families in low-income communities and the implications of this movement for school psychologists. The development of collaborative partnerships involving schools, public, and community-based agencies is an attempt to increase the availability and accessibility of needed services to children and families. The adoption of collaborative governance and a case management system is intended to offer an alternative to the proliferation of separate categorical programs and the associated lack of coordination among programs. The hope is to emphasize prevention and efficient early intervention. Collaborative efforts can provide an opportunity for role expansion among school psychologists. This possibility is discussed within a consultation model of service delivery that is consistent with the collaborative nature of school-linked services and with the preventive stance that orginated them. School psychologists are in a position to contribute to team consultation, case management, and needs assessment. Implications for training are drawn.     

Opportunities for school psychologists in rural school settings

Rural school psychologists from California, Georgia, Indiana, and Iowa were mailed questionnaires asking them to describe the advantages of practicing school psychology in rural school settings. Three main clusters of responses emerged, including: close contact and good working relationships with teachers, administrators, and parents; role diversity and autonomy; and positive environmental context. Levels of job satisfaction also were investigated. A total of 59% of the psychologists reported high or very high job satisfaction, while 33% reported an average level of satisfaction, and only 8% reported a low level of satisfaction.     

Gifted education policy and advocacy: Perspectives for school psychologists

Education laws and policies serve to guide the way programs and services are implemented in schools. The transition from law or policy to implementation can be fraught with complications that impact the education system across many levels. According to Viennet and Pont (2017), one of the areas that can either hinder or support the transition from policy to practice is “inclusive stakeholder engagement” (p. 3). School psychologists are an important stakeholder in the education system thus they should have familiarity with gifted education policy to ensure students are being served appropriately—both academically and socio-emotionally. This article will introduce school psychologists to (a) federal and state laws impacting gifted students, (b) the role litigation, due process, and research has in shaping policy, and (c) relevant gifted education policy considerations.     

Attitudes and mainstreaming: A literature review for school psychologists

“Mainstreaming” legislation requires that special needs students participate in regular classroom activities to the extent possible. Studies indicate, however, that, neither parents, peers, nor professionals may be expected to hold positive attitudes toward these students or be competent providers of positive growth experiences. Existing evidence supports the need for comprehensive training programs for these groups which provide an interface between their experiences with special needs students and an introduction to new knowledge. School psychologists should assume a leadership role in development and implementation.     

Assessment and intervention practices with second‐language learners among school psychologists

This paper describes assessment and intervention practices with second‐language learners among practicing school psychologists in one southwestern state. A 10‐item survey was used to gain information about the assessment instruments and procedures and intervention practices used with linguistically different children by school psychologists. Surveys were mailed to all members of the state professional organization. Thirty‐three percent of the surveys were returned and considered usable for analyses. An analysis of the returned surveys revealed that a number of school psychologists are using alternative assessment techniques, such as curriculum‐based measurement, dynamic assessment, and portfolio assessment with this population. The majority, however, continue to use traditional cognitive tests, such as the Weschler Scales, and traditional interventions, such as resource room service delivery. Results of the survey are discussed in terms of best practices with linguistically different children. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Self-instruction training: A potential tool for school psychologists

Self-instruction training is a cognitive-behavioral approach to self-control in which children are taught to use covert speech to modify their own behavior. The potential effectiveness of self-instruction training as an intervention technique for school psychologists to enhance student academic and/or social behavior in the classroom is the focus of this review. Research results addressing the practical issues of how, when, and with whom to use this strategy, its generalizability, and its long-term and comparative effectiveness are presented. Implications for further research in the schools are discussed.     

Family therapy: A case for training for school psychologists

This article presents both a rationale and methodology for family involvement by school personnel and underscores the need for school psychology training programs to respond programmatically to the training of their students in understanding and working with families. A family systems approach is adopted by the authors and is presented in the form of key questions concerning some important family dynamics. Five applications of this framework in the school setting are discussed.     

Building school support systems for parents of handicapped children: The parent Education and Guidance program

The Parent Education and Guidance Program was motivated by the belief that the fostering of a positive, ongoing relationship between the school and home can have a significant bearing on the development of family strengths for coping with a handicapped child. The training program utilized parent support groups and professionals from various fields to involve parents of handicapped children in group process directed toward the holistic approach to meeting the child's social, emotional, and intellectual needs. During the course of the program it became apparent that parents needed the help and support of other parents who shared similar difficulties related to having a handicapped child in the family. Issues related to developing personal awareness as well as interpersonal skills were dealt with at the parent meetings. An atmosphere of mutual understanding and support between members of the Child Study Team and parents developed as a result of less formalized and more relaxed contact during the 8-month program.