Abstract

Screening for emotional and behavioral problems in youth is a well-validated process for elementary-aged children as notable and respected research has provided evidence that children at risk for behavioral and emotional problems can be identified and provided with targeted interventions, which prevent additional problems (Lane, Wehby, & Barton-Arwood, 2005). However, there is a lack of research offering evidence for a behavioral and emotional screening process for high school students. Identifying at-risk youth is a vital component in providing early-intervention services that can remediate problems before they become severe and require resource intensive interventions. This research contributes to the development of a screening measure based on a validated multi-gated screening process for use in high schools. The new measure will be adapted from the Stage 1 of the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD; Walker & Severson, 1992) used in elementary schools to identify students who are at risk for developing emotional and behavioral disorders. Descriptors of students at-risk for emotional and behavior disorders from Schilling (2009) and a review of items used from common behavior rating scales were used to create a teacher nomination form that will serve as a first gate in the multi-gated screening process. The appropriateness of the descriptors for the teacher nomination form was evaluated by teachers in high schools.

Degree

EdS

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

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