NCT04869657

Sustainment of Mental Health Supports

Sustainment of Mental Health Supports in Under-Resourced Urban Schools

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 421 (actual)
• Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 99 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Schools need sustainable systems to improve climate and address student mental health. This study compares two sustainment models for Tier 2 mental health interventions within a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) framework. Using a 2-arm, cluster randomized Type-2 Hybrid trial, 12 urban public schools participated over three years each. School district intervention Implementers (e.g., school counselors) and district-level coaches participated throughout the study, while Tier 2 Team Members (e.g., social workers, behavioral health staff) were involved during the initial implementation phase only. Primary outcomes include fidelity, penetration, cost, and student outcomes (mental health and academic engagement) for evidence-based practices (Coping Power Program \[CPP\]; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy \[CBT\] for Anxiety Treatment in Schools \[CATS\]).

Conditions

• Behavior Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Coping Power Program (CPP)	CPP is an evidence-based intervention designed for students with externalizing behavior disorder. CPP consists of twelve 45-minute sessions. This EBP has been found to be effective at reducing aggressive behavior, covert delinquent behavior and substance abuse among aggressive boys, with gains maintained at one-year follow-up. Growth curve analyses showed that CPP had linear effects for three years after intervention on reductions in aggressive behavior and academic behavior problems.
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for Anxiety Treatment in Schools (CATS)	CATS is an adaptation of the Friends for Life (FRIENDS) intervention. The adapted protocol retains the core elements of evidence-based CBT for anxiety and the FRIENDS group format. Investigators implemented planned adaptations to the protocol based on collective experience. Changes were made to the language, cultural methods, number of sessions, and activities while maintaining the 5 essential components of the treatment. This resulted in a briefer (8-session) and more feasible, engaging, and culturally appropriate protocol for urban under-resourced schools than the original FRIENDS.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-09-17
• Primary completion: 2025-07-01
• Completion: 2025-07-01
• First posted: 2021-05-03
• Last updated: 2026-02-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States