Module 7: Skill-Building Groups
Social-Emotional Skill-Building Groups as SchooLink Providers
The School-Based Incredible Years and School-Based Skill-Building programs are County-funded outpatient clinics that provide on-campus and community-based assessment, small groups, and ancillary services for children and adolescents in designated preschools through eighth grade. The focus of these services are small groups delivered on school campuses that are designed to improve social-emotional competence, management of emotions, healthy relationships, problem-solving skills, communication, and classroom functioning. Ancillary services such as care coordination and caregiver groups are also provided.
Early Intervention services (EI) in mental health aim to recognize and address behavioral symptoms as soon as they appear, before they become severe or prolonged. Services focus on reducing the probability of developing long-term mental health conditions. This proactive approach can significantly improve future mental health and prevent chronic issues. EI services are provided using a standardized curricula.
Skill-Building groups are part of the SchooLink network of behavioral health providers in San Diego County. Like all SchooLink partners, School-Based Incredible Years and School-Based Skill-Building are licensed Medi-Cal providers, however, they have a primary service delivery mode of small groups and a well-defined focus population for their curriculum(s).
History of Early Intervention Skill-Building Groups
Preschool-3rd Grade Programs: The original School-Based Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs for grades PreK-3rd grades were initiated in 2009 with a focus in the rural East, North Inland, and Mountain communities, utilizing The Incredible Years curriculum for classroom lessons, small groups, and parent groups for the entire school population. The contracts were reprocured in 2016 and 2022, increasing to six regional contracts awarded to five providers. With Prop 1 initiating the transition of Mental Health Services Act PEI to Behavioral Health Services Act, the contracts have transitioned to Medi-Cal billable programs.
Middle School Programs: In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory suggesting expansion of social and emotional learning programs. In 2022, a multi-disciplinary workgroup developed a Universal Screening and Treatment program for middle schoolers called Screening to Care (S2C). The goal of S2C was universal screening of all middle schoolers to determine their social-emotional needs and provide early intervention services aligned with Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). S2C was launched post-pandemic to support the needs of all students on participating campuses and has transitioned to a Medi-Cal eligible population.
Service Provision
Preschool to 3rd Grade
Interventions designed to promote social-emotional competence and development, reduce aggressive behaviors, and advance classroom functioning using elements of The Incredible Years Curriculum, also called ‘Dinosaur School’.
Middle School (Grades 4-8)
Interventions designed to improve communication and social skills, promote management of emotions, increase healthy relationships, develop problem-solving skills, and improve classroom functioning, using an evidence-based practice (EBP) or community-defined practice curriculum (CDEP), such as Second Step or Support for Students exposed to Trauma (SSET).
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Length of Services
The amount of time a student receives Skill-Building services is individualized to the student’s assessed needs; however, it is generally around 10 group sessions held weekly. Ancillary services, including one-on-one instruction or care coordination, may also be provided during this time. If this early intervention service does not meet the student's behavioral health needs or more intensive services are needed, a student may transition to a different SchooLink service, such as Core or a Teen Recovery Center (see module 1).
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Location of Services
Each regional program has a main community-based clinic that is a Medi-Cal certified site attached to a specific address, and is assigned to designated school districts and school sites for on-campus services. School sites are selected based on the estimated number of eligible students who have Medi-Cal, qualify for free or reduced-price lunch data, or have a high population of “socioeconomically disadvantaged” students on the School Accountability Report Card. During school breaks, students may be offered services at the clinic site, home, or community location if the campus is closed.
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Caregiver Services
Caregivers or parents of the students receiving small group services may receive group education that aligns with student curriculum, individual support related to their student’s behavioral health, or referrals to address any other needs.
Skill-Building Groups in SchooLink
How these services differ from Core Individual, Group, and Family Treatment or Teen Recovery Center (TRC) services:
- Early Intervention: Addressing emerging social-emotional and behavioral health symptoms before they become acute or chronic.
- Small group service delivery is the primary mode of service.
- Use of The Incredible Years or EBP or CDEP curriculum which has prior approval from the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
Next Module
For administrative information or to provide feedback about the SchooLink training program, please email BHSContactUs.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov with subject line: SchooLink.
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