Teachers Make School-Linked Services Work

This study examines the involvement of 462 teachers in school-linked service efforts (such as provision of medical care, parenting education, and counseling at the school site) in 77 schools throughout California. The survey found that the teachers participated in an average of 2.7 types of training activities concerning school-linked services. Teachers most frequently participated in information sessions about the services or in training on ways to identify students for referral to school-linked services. Fifty-nine percent of the teachers reported feeling very or somewhat well-informed about school-linked services. Forty-seven percent felt very or somewhat involved in activities related to school-linked services. Teachers reported increases in involvement in meetings concerning students' noneducational needs, frequency of communication with service agency staff and students' family members, and frequency of referring students to noneducational services. Teachers perceived that services available to students had improved a little. They felt slightly more positive about their abilities to help students. Teachers who participated in more training activities were more likely to report feeling more informed about and involved in school-linked services than those who participated in fewer training sessions. Implications for incorporating teacher involvement into design of school-linked service programs are noted. (JDD)