Foundations of School Mental Health

Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems (CSMHS) provide a full array of tiered supports and services that promote a positive school climate, social and emotional learning, and mental health and well-being, while reducing the prevalence and severity of mental illness and substance use. CSMHSs are built on a strong foundation of district and school professionals, including administrators and educators, specialized instructional support personnel (e.g., school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, school nurses, and other school health professionals), in strategic collaboration with students, families, and community health and mental health partners. These systems also assess and address the social, political, and environmental structures, include pblic policies and social norms, that influence mental health outcomes.

We are excited to share our collaboration with the Center for Health Care in Schools and the School-Based Health Alliance on

For more information, view:

• The Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems report offers collective insight and guidance to local communities and states to advance comprehensive school mental health systems. 
• School Mental Health Quality Assessment Domains and Indicators PDF
• National Center for Healthy Safe Children - Implementing a Comprehensive School Mental Health Program Learning Module
• Understanding Social Influencers of Health and Education: A Role for School-Based Health Centers and Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems, an issue brief created in collaboration with the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools and the School-Based Health Alliance
• Assessing Social Influencers of Health and Education, an issue brief created by the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools