Adapting TeamSTEPPS for school mental health teams: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• School mental health services
• Team-based care
• Implementation science

Background:

• School mental health care is often delivered by external community mental health teams.
• Team members frequently lack training in effective team-based collaboration.
• Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) offers a potential solution for enhancing school-based team communication and climate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and pilot the TeamSTEPPS strategy for school mental health teams.
• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted TeamSTEPPS approach in a school setting.

Main Methods:

• Stakeholder collaboration to adapt TeamSTEPPS.
• Randomized pilot study in six schools comparing adapted TeamSTEPPS to usual supports.
• Evaluation of feasibility and acceptability as primary outcomes.

Main Results:

• Team member burnout increased from pre-treatment to follow-up in both control and intervention groups.
• TeamSTEPPS implementation was found to be feasible and acceptable.
• Leadership was identified as a key facilitator, while staff turnover, resource limitations, and team relationship challenges were significant barriers.

Conclusions:

• The TeamSTEPPS strategy shows promise for improving school mental health teams.
• Additional modifications and ongoing support, such as consultation and booster training, are likely necessary to address implementation challenges like staff turnover and burnout.