CURRENT PROJECTS

Prairie Evaluation Project

Partners

PRAIRIE St. John’s Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota

Project Description

The Prairie Evaluation Project has been helping school counselors and other school-based mental health professionals to identify children with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse.  Between 2001 and 2003, twenty-six middle and high schools in Eastern North Dakota and Western Minnesota have participated in the project sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health at Columbia University and PRAIRIE St. John’s Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota.

Over 50 school counselors and other school-based mental health professionals were trained to use the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC), an evidence-based psychiatric interview embedded in an interactive computer software program. The DISC is used to assess children and adolescents (ages 9 – 18 years) for mental health concerns.  Throughout the course of the Project, schools incorporated the DISC into their counseling activities in a variety of ways with positive results. Many counselors reported that the DISC was helpful in assessing youth mental health concerns and in making mental health referrals.  As part of the project, at least 12 different clinical providers offered rapid access to services for children identified through the project.

Since the completion of the Prairie Evaluation Project in June 2003, many school counselors have continued to use the DISC in their schools.  At the end of the 2003-2004 academic year, participating school counselors will be contacted as part of a follow-up study to find out if the DISC has continued to be useful even after the research project has ended.  For more information about this project and implementing similar projects in your community, contact Peter S. Jensen, MD, at training@thereachinstitute.org

Support & Funding

The Carmel Hill Fund provides free DISC installations.

Links

www.c-disc.com

www.prairie-stjohns.com