title: Building Capacity of Occupational Therapy Practitioners to Address the Mental Health Needs of Children and Youth: A Mixed-Methods Study of Knowledge Translation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored the meaning and outcomes of a 6-mo building capacity process designed to promote knowledge translation of a public health approach to mental health among pediatric occupational therapy practitioners participating in a Community of Practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-group (N = 117) mixed-methods design using a pretest-posttest survey and qualitative analysis of written reflections was used to explore the meaning and outcomes of the building capacity process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements (p < .02) in pretest-posttest scores of knowledge, beliefs, and actions related to a public health approach to mental health were found. Qualitative findings suggest that participation resulted in a renewed commitment to addressing children's mental health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The building capacity process expanded practitioner knowledge, renewed energy, and promoted confidence, resulting in change leaders empowered to articulate, advocate for, and implement practice changes reflecting occupational therapy's role in addressing children's mental health.
authors.affiliation: Susan Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Project Director, Every Moment Counts, and Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Health Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH; s.bazyk@csuohio.edu.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bazyk
authors.affiliation: Louise Demirjian, MA, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapy Consultant, Every Moment Counts, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demirjian
authors.affiliation: Teri LaGuardia, MOT, OTR/L, is Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Instructor, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, EHOVE/Lorain County Community College, Milan, OH, and Occupational Therapy Consultant, Every Moment Counts.
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: LaGuardia
authors.affiliation: Karen Thompson-Repas, MBA, OTR/L, is Director, OT and PT Services, Cleveland Municipal School District, Cleveland, OH, and Occupational Therapy Consultant, Every Moment Counts.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson-Repas
authors.affiliation: Carol Conway, MS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Hudson City Schools, Hudson, OH, and Occupational Therapy Consultant, Every Moment Counts.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.affiliation: Paula Michaud, MEd, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Cleveland, OH, and Occupational Therapy Consultant, Every Moment Counts.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michaud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057191:Capacity Building / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D024382:Professional Role; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical