Published in:
01-04-2016
A Statewide Common Elements Initiative for Children’s Mental Health
Authors:
Shannon Dorsey, PhD, Lucy Berliner, LCSW, Aaron R. Lyon, PhD, Michael D. Pullmann, PhD, Laura K. Murray, PhD
Published in:
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research
|
Issue 2/2016
Login to get access
Abstract
Many evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for child and adolescent mental health disorders have been developed, but few are available in public mental health settings. This paper describes initial implementation outcomes for a state-funded effort in Washington State to increase EBT availability, via a common elements training and consultation approach focused on four major problem areas (anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and behavioral problems). Clinicians (N = 180) reported significant improvement in their ability to assess and treat all problem areas at post-consultation. Clinicians from organizations with a supervisor-level “EBT champion” had higher baseline scores on a range of outcomes, but many differences disappeared at post-consultation. Outcomes suggest that a common elements initiative, which includes training and consultation, may positively impact clinician-level outcomes and that having “in-house” EBT expertise may provide additional benefits.