The Mental Heath Intervention Program (MHIP), a collaborative project with the Los Angeles School District (LAUSD), provides mental health screening and a standardized brief cognitive behavioral therapy treatment in schools for students who have been exposed to violence. Researchers from UCLA and RAND engaged in a participatory research partnership with the LAUSD mental health staff in order to develop a program that is not only relevant and appropriate for students and their families, but also relevant, feasible, and eventually sustainable by school clinicians.

Key aims: To understand the level of violence exposure and mental health symptoms of Latino students attending the participating schools. To develop a trauma program that could be delivered in schools by school clinicians. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Methods: In the MHIP pilot study, conducted between January through June 2000, 1,004 recent immigrant school children (aged 8-15) were surveyed about their prior exposure to violence and symptoms of PTSD and depression. Participants included children whose native language was Spanish, Korean, Russian or Western Armenian. 198 Latino students who reported significant community violence exposure and trauma-related Depression and/or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms were evaluated, and consented to participate in the program. When possible, students were randomized to receive the intervention immediately or be placed on a waitlist to receive the intervention later in the school year. The intervention consisted of a brief manualized group cognitive behavioral thereapy (CBT) (CBITS, Jaycox, 2000) delivered in Spanish by bilingual, bicultural school social workers. The program also includes 4 parent sessions and 1 teacher psychoeducation session.

Significance: The original pilot of this program targeting immigrant Latino students in third through eighth grades demonstrated that PTSD and Depression symptoms significantly improved more in those who received immediate treatment compared to those on the wait list.

Impact: This early intervention program, which can be delivered on school campuses by school based clinicians, can provide treatment for the many low income and minority children who do not receive care when they need it.

Current status: We are now beginning a new phase of the project, and exploring ways and options of sustaining this program through provision of service within LAUSD and from outside community providers.

Principal Investigators:
Marleen Wong (PI);
Sheryl Kataoka, MD;
Bradley Stein, MD, MPH;
Lisa Jaycox, PhD

Sponsored by:
Los Angeles Unified School District