Supporting Behavioral Health Needs of All Military Students BY GREGORY LESKIN, Ph.D., National Child Traumatic Stress Network, MCEC Science Advisory Board Member & SUE LOPEZ, M.Ed., Military Child Education Coalition Since 2014, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has been in close collaboration with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) to address the unique challenges faced by military-connected students. This partnership culminates each July in a pre-summit professional training, held in conjunction with MCEC's Global Training Summit, bringing together a diverse group, including military leadership, educators, professionals, and students. The latest forum, convened in July 2023, focused on training participants in supporting the behavioral health and social-emotional needs of military-connected students, emphasizing the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). MTSS is a comprehensive model for education and behavioral health service delivery. It offers a structured approach, enabling school staff — teachers, administrators, school counselors, and psychologists — to actively identify and provide academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to the entire school population. The MTSS framework consists of three tiers:
Tier 3 Tier Tier
2
Intensive Intervention (Individual or small group)
Students needing more intensive intervention receive individualized support.
Targeted & Strategic Intervention (Smail Groups)
1
Students identified as needing additional help receive support through small group intervention.
Preventative, Developmental & Proactive for All Students
All students receive developmental, preventative, and proactive support and intervention.
Source: Missouri State Department of Education. School Counselor's Guide to Multi-tiered Systems of Support. Routledge, 2019.
From a behavioral health perspective, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is one model incorporated into MTSS. PBIS integrates emotional and mental health literacy into daily classroom activities, fostering emotional reflection, communication of academic and social experiences, and the identification of when individualized intervention is necessary. With 80% of military-connected students attending public schools, the importance of providing professional
20 ON THE MOVE®
development to school counselors and school psychologists cannot be overstated. These professionals play a critical role in utilizing MTSS to address the unique needs of military-connected students during academic and social-emotional transitions as well as building critical community partnerships and Department of Defense installation leaders. Considering the frequent relocations experienced by military children and families, staff training on MTSS and PBIS programs becomes imperative for ensuring
Volume 16 Issue 2
