Date

Fall 12-7-2025

ESRP 9000 Professor

Lucas DeWitt, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

A Strategic Research Project Enhancing Mental Health Teams in a School Setting. Delsue Rena Frankson, 2025: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: accountability, achievement gap, behavioral health, data sharing system, dosage fidelity, implementation fidelity, mental health, multi-tiered system of support, process fidelity, professional development, school behavioral professionals, school climate, school-wide positive behavior intervention support, stakeholders, structural fidelity, student behaviors, teacher retention, teacher turnover, trauma-informed practices, urban school districts

This strategic research project was designed to explore the role of administrative support in the implementation of School Mental Health Teams to improve school climate, school safety, student positive behavior, and student academic success rate. The proposed solution was to focus on Leadership Accountability with the implementation of the mental health initiative in our school district. The selected strategy focused on strengthening the organization’s mental health initiative by requiring school-based leaders to include the Mental Health Team in their school’s Crisis Plan. Our school district’s mental health policy requires schools to have mental health teams in place on our school campuses. Some schools in our school district need improvement in the area of effectively implementing a functional mental health team on their campuses.

The action plan outlined in this project to implement the recommended strategy and achieve the recommended solution will require three semesters, which is equivalent to one and a half school year. The action plan will begin in January 2026 and be completed by June 2027; this will give all stakeholders time to learn more about the recommended solution. Six action steps were chosen to effectively implement the chosen strategy. Each step requires planning meetings and collaboration among school district leaders. Insights gained as a result of this project is that it is important to explore the role of administrative support in the implementation of the School Mental Health Teams to improve school climate, school safety, and student achievement rates.


Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Organizational Leadership

Language

English

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