Developing systems interventions in a school setting: an application of community-based participatory research for mental health.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to develop systems interventions in a public school district using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to improve the social and academic functioning of children from racial and ethnic minority populations. DESIGN The study used qualitative methods in the process of problem definition and intervention planning, including in-depth qualitative interviews and stakeholder dialogue groups. The study was conducted at three levels--the school system as a whole, two individual schools, and a multiple-stakeholder participatory group. SETTING The study took place in a public school system in an urban city with a population of 101,355 and in two public schools located in this city. PARTICIPANTS The CBPR team included two researchers, a researcher/consulting psychiatrist in the schools, the director of the special education office, her management team, four teachers, and two school-based administrators. INTERVENTIONS The CBPR group engaged in a process of problem definition and intervention planning at all three levels of the system. In addition, both schools initiated systems interventions to target the needs of their school environments. RESULTS The project led to system interventions at both schools, clarity about the policy constraints to effective collaboration, and increased awareness regarding the behavioral and academic needs of minority children in the schools. The process produced a series of questions to use as a framework in CBPR partnership development. CONCLUSIONS The CBPR approach can expand the scope of mental-health services research, particularly related to services for racial and ethnic minorities.