Culturally Responsive, Trauma-Informed Care for Newcomer Students

Engagement and Clinical Strategies from Providers in School-Based Health Centers

Abstract

Culturally responsive service delivery is an essential component of trauma-informed schools. While there is clinical guidance, how culturally responsive care is operationalized in practice is not as well understood. The current paper provides practice-based insights into the application of culturally responsive, care in the context of eight school-based health centers (SBHCs). Unique student groups served by the SBHCs include newcomers and non-English speaking students. Using a research-practice partnership process, including a focus group and key informant interviews with clinicians, supervisors, and SBHC leadership, the paper provides descriptive information and case examples of practice elements related to different components of integrated behavioral health care in schools. These include: 1) engagement strategies for newcomers, 2) culturally responsive mental health identification practices, 3) adaptations to evidence-based trauma treatments, and 4) facilitative organization processes for engaging in culturally responsive care (e.g., training, multi-disciplinary workgroups, leadership support, workflow processes).