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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mary C. Ruffolo, PhD, LMSW and Daniel J. Fischer, LMSW. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-936-4799, mruffolo@umich.edu

The President's New Freedom Commission report on Mental Health (2003) recommends enhancing mental health interventions for children and youth in the schools. This study examines the implementation of cognitive-behavioral group interventions for middle school youth experiencing depressive symptoms at three school-based health and wellness (SBHC) clinics. The three SBHC settings serve a relatively high concentrations of students from families who receive Medicaid or are uninsured - approximately 50%. Each CBT group intervention was delivered during the school day for 9 weeks. Youth were referred by school and health care center staff. The manualized CBT group intervention was adapted for delivery in school based settings. Depressive symptoms, school engagement and peer relationships were assessed at the start and end of the group intervention using standardized measures. In addition, parents of youth at the middle schools who participated in the groups also completed standardized instruments to gain their perspective on the youth's functioning with peers, at school and with family at intake. A total of 36 youth participated in the groups. A majority of the youth (79%) experienced decreases in depressed mood by the end of the CBT group intervention. Improvement was also noted in school engagement measures and peer relationships for a majority of the youth who participated in the group sessions. Qualitative comments from students indicated that they found the group sessions to be helpful to them and would recommend the group to other students. These initial findings support the use of CBT group interventions by social workers in SBHC settings.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant will learn about the findings of the cbt group intervention as it relates to working with youth experiencing depressive symptoms in school based health clinic settings.
• The participant will be able to discuss implications for social work practice and next steps for research of the cbt manualized intervention program for youth experiencing depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Adolescents, Intervention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No