Coping Power at the REACH School Network: A pilot feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Public Health Interventions
• Behavioral Health Services

Background:

• School-based health centers (SBHCs) are vital for addressing socioeconomic disparities in child development and mental healthcare.
• Disruptive behaviors in children often require accessible and effective interventions.
• The Coping Power (CP) program is a validated behavioral intervention designed for children with disruptive behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot the Coping Power (CP) program within a school-based health center (SBHC) setting.
• To assess the feasibility of delivering CP to children experiencing socioeconomic disparities and disruptive behaviors.
• To gather preliminary data on attendance and satisfaction with the CP program in the SBHC environment.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving parent/caregiver-child dyads enrolled in the CP program at SBHCs.
• Data collection included baseline demographic information and behavior rating scales.
• Feasibility was measured by attendance rates and participant satisfaction surveys.

Main Results:

• 31 parent/caregiver-child dyads participated, with approximately 40% from families with annual incomes below $49,999.
• High attendance was observed, with 70.9% of dyads missing two or fewer sessions.
• Participant satisfaction was positive, with 100% of surveyed parents/caregivers reporting being 'somewhat' or 'very satisfied', and 72.2% of children feeling the program helped them cope with anger.

Conclusions:

• The Coping Power (CP) program is feasible for delivery within school-based health centers (SBHCs).
• Implementing CP in SBHCs can improve access to behavioral interventions for disadvantaged children.
• This approach holds potential for improving mental health outcomes in vulnerable youth populations.