Lisa Murphy-Church

PBIS Strategies: Evidence-Based Approaches for K-12 Schools

by
pbis strategies

The need for teachers to manage disruptive behaviors in the classroom is certainly nothing new. Since the pandemic, however, educators have been reporting significant increases in aggressive, disrespectful, and inappropriate behavior and a decline in students’ social-emotional development. Furthermore, unwanted behaviors are no longer limited to small segments of students or specific schools but rather are being widely reported by districts across the country.

4 Best Examples of Successful School Mental Health Programs

by
examples of mental health programs in schools

School-based mental health services had become increasingly popular in the decades prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the explosion of distress levels coupled with the influx of pandemic-related funding opportunities led to an even greater presence of mental health services in school settings. As schools and society at large continue to adapt to a new normal, it may be a good time to step back and reassess the scope and effectiveness of school-based programs.

How Therapy Dogs in Schools Can Improve Student Mental Health

by
therapy dogs in schools

Over time, dogs have proven highly effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, not just in veterans but also in the wider population. Studies have shown that short-term, unstructured interactions with a therapy dog can significantly reduce anxiety and distress levels. This same study showed similar effects on children.

School Refusal Interventions: Evidence-Based Solutions

by
school refusal interventions

School refusal behavior (also known as school avoidance), on the other hand, is largely an anxiety-based condition. It is not a psychiatric diagnosis per se, but rather it is a complex syndrome influenced by temperament, genetics, cognitive factors, plus family and school environments. It affects both boys and girls and can involve an unwillingness to attend school at all, and/or an inability to remain in school for the entire day.

Summer and Mental Health: Creating a Summer Safety Plan

by
summer and mental health

Moods shift when May approaches, as rigid schedules filled with alarm clocks, bells and packed agendas are finally coming to an end. To ensure a safe, supportive and mentally healthy season, schools and families should work together to establish a summer safety plan for students that continues to provide much-needed structure and resources for families to promote a sense of wellbeing and stability for the student.

5 Effective Middle School Behavior Management Strategies​ in 2025

by
middle school behavior management

The mere mention of the words “middle school” can be enough to send chills up the spines of educators, parents, and students. The middle school years are widely recognized as a time when chaos can ensue because of the intersection of hormonal changes, increased academic demands, and a growing orientation toward peer relationships instead of family relationships. It is also the time when certain neurodevelopmental, mental health, or medical symptoms might manifest for the first time or worsen due to both brain and biological maturation.

Mental Health in Schools: An Educator’s Guide to Student Success

by
mental health in schools

In October 2021, when former U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy declared youth mental health the “crisis of our time,” something shifted in the hearts and minds of educators across the country. Educators and parents knew it was happening; they could see the mental health of their children and teens worsening in their homes and classrooms. They read stories in the news that teen anxiety, depression and suicide were rampant and exposure to social media and gun violence was making matters worse.

Effective Behavioral Management Techniques for K-12 Schools

by
behavioral management techniques

Shaping children into the student role and managing behavior in the classroom have always been important parts of a teacher’s job. Historically these tasks have been challenging enough considering that all students in the same grade level are not equally mature, some are struggling with neurodevelopmental and/or mental health issues, and each have been raised within specific family and cultural contexts that shape behavioral expectations.

Six Effective School-Based Behavior Intervention Strategies

by
behavior intervention strategies

If teachers only had to concern themselves with finding engaging ways to present curriculum content and to vary it to address different learning styles, their daily activities in the classroom would be relatively straightforward. But in today’s schools, teachers increasingly must navigate children’s challenging behaviors and mental health concerns if they have any chance of imparting academic skills and knowledge.

Understanding Eating Disorders in Boys

by
eating disorders in boys

The well-known eating disorders (EDs), such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, are more commonly associated with females. However, males are increasingly affected, with studies showing that 1 in 3 people diagnosed with an eating disorder are male. Yet, because the disorder often goes undiagnosed, many boys suffer in silence.

Learn more about Funding Sustainable School-Based Mental Health Programs

Complete this form to schedule a free mental health planning session where we will discuss available financial sources you can leverage to fund school-based mental health programs in your district.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Please read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use before submitting this form.

Our Unwavering Focus on Data Collection

At ESS, we have an unrelenting focus on data, measuring results, and communicating to our partners the proven impact our programming has on mental health, school outcomes and financial sustainability.

With every ESS partner, we will:

• Set data driven goals at the beginning of every implementation

• Have regular “Report Card” meetings in which we share the impact of ESS services

• Monitor data along the way to look for potential risk areas so that these can be proactively addressed

Learn more about our Will to Wellness 6 Step Framework

Complete this form to discuss best practices for districts, states, and federal policymakers that will reinvent mental health in schools over the next five years.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Please read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use before submitting this form.

Speak with our experts to learn how your district can improve outcomes and reduce costs

Complete this form to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your needs and challenges and to provide insights on where you may be able to improve mental health support.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Please read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use before submitting this form.

Let's Discuss the Mental Health Needs of Your Students

Fill out the form to request a meeting with one of our clinical experts to explore ways we can partner to strengthen your mental health programs.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Please read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use before submitting this form.

effective school solutions logo
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

For more information about exercising privacy and data protection rights, please refer to our Privacy Policy or you may contact ESS at privacy@effectiveschoolsolutions.com.