Preparing School Psychologists as Partners in Integrated Health Care Delivery: A Training Model

Abstract

School psychologists with specialized training and experience in the medical and psychosocial aspects of child and adolescent development are poised to become active partners on the integrated health care team, given that more than 20% of children are classified as having special health care needs. Specialty training in pediatric school psychology along with traditional training in education and psychology, prepares school psychologists to work collaboratively with pediatricians and other health care professionals to ensure that children and youth receive the help they need for optimal functioning. This paper describes an innovative training model developed by a school psychology training program and a medical school that can be used as a guide for training programs as they prepare school psychologists to assume this critical role.