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Universal Emotional Health Screening at the Middle School Transition

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington, annv{at}u.washington.edu

Elizabeth Mccauley

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Kelly A. Thompson

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Jerald R. Herting

Department of Psychosocial and Community Health, University of Washington

Elena S. Kuo

Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington

David G. Stewart

Graduate Psychology Program, Seattle Pacific University

Cheryl A. Anderson

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

Siri Kushner

Kitsap County Health District

This article describes the implementation of the Developmental Pathways Screening Program (DPSP) and an evaluation of program feasibility, acceptability, and yield. Using the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) and externalizing questions from the Youth Self Report (YSR;Achenbach, 2001), universal classroom-based emotional health screening was implemented with students as they began middle school. Of all sixth graders enrolled in four participating Seattle schools, 861 (83%) were screened. Students who screened positive for emotional distress (15% of students screened) received onsite structured clinical evaluations with children's mental health professionals. Seventy-one percent of students who were evaluated were found to be experiencing significant emotional distress, with 59% warranting referral to academic tutoring, school counselor, and/or community mental health services. Successful implementation of in-class screening was facilitated by strong collaboration between DPSP and school staff. Limitations of emotional health screening and the DPSP are discussed, and future steps are outlined.

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