title: A school-based post-Katrina therapeutic intervention.
abstract: The current study presents the implementation of a set of school based interventions in a greater New Orleans school district one year following Hurricane Katrina. The interventions included adaptation and implementation of evidence based treatments in a crisis situation with at-risk youth which involved training and clinical challenges. 386 students found to have significant depressive and/or disruptive disorder symptoms received treatment from the School Therapeutic Enhancement Program (STEP). Further, a district-wide mental health needs assessment of middle and high school students (N = 11,861) screened for behavioral and emotional difficulties at the beginning and end of the school year provided a benchmark for community youth's emotional and behavioral distress. High-need intervention students demonstrated clinically significant lower levels of emotional and behavioral problems, depression and inattention in comparison to pre-treatment levels as indicated by multiple informants (i.e., self, parent, teacher). Self-reported distress levels were also lower than screening group students at post-test. These findings support the efficacy of a school-based intervention for youth struggling with the aftereffects of a highly disruptive natural disaster. Implications for utilizing a flexible adaptation of an evidence-based training model involving coaching and consultation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 14 Rye Ridge Plaza, Suite 244, Rye Brook, NY, 10573, USA, eliotgoldman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eliot E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Daliah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Denise L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalka
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lochman
authors.forename: Wendy K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bannon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055820:New Orleans; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*