BieneSTAR: A community-university partnership to deliver culturally appropriate mental health services for Latino immigrant children in school-based health clinics

Significant inequities exist in the provision of affordable, accessible, and appropriate services to address children's mental health needs - especially children of immigrant families due to unique emotional and behavioral struggles specific to immigration experiences. BieneSTAR is an innovative partnership between an academic medical center, public school system, and Latino grassroots community-based organization, in Durham, North Carolina. The mission is to create a sustainable continuum of mental health services at three elementary school-based health clinics (SBHC) that is culturally responsive and fully integrated into the schools, with special emphasis on Latino immigrant at-risk students. Program activities include: training school staff on cultural competency and mental and behavior health issues; orientating parents on how to support their children's mental health within the school system; hosting parenting skills sessions; leading early intervention student skill-building groups; and providing culturally appropriate mental health treatment for children and their families. From the 2007 school year to present time, 186 children were assessed for mental health services through the SBHC, 40% of whom are Hispanic/Latino. 44% of all children assessed declared Spanish as their primary language and 36% were Medicaid eligible. Ninety-seven caregivers received bilingual, culturally appropriate health services information at the schools and/or attended educational sessions regarding supporting their children's mental health. Sixty-nine school personnel participated in education sessions. Preliminary teacher pre-SDQ data indicate that students' difficulties impacted classroom learning dynamics and outcomes. Findings suggest that culturally appropriate mental health services placed within SBHCs for the immigrant student population are a much-needed service.