Tiered Mental Health Support: Meeting the Needs of All Students

Tiered support has become an important mental health delivery framework whereby preventive intervention reaches all students, with more intensive supports provided as needed. Following a brief history and description of tiered support, this chapter offers an overview of mental health interventions at each of three tiers. Data-based procedures for matching student needs with tier placement are provided, along with strategies for moving students across tiers, when indicated. In addition, larger systemic issues are discussed that are critical for sustaining systems of tiered support, such as how to encourage constituent buy-in. Recommendations are offered for creating a context for tiered mental health support within school systems that increases sustainability and efficiency of resources.