Interprofessional Collaboration and Teachers: A Social Capital Perspective

• In Event: Roundtable Session 25
  In Roundtable Session: Parent-Teacher Interaction and Collaboration

Abstract

Teachers collaborate with mental health professionals within interprofessional teams. Teachers are key participants in these collaborations addressing complex student needs that are interconnected across school, family, and community systems. Teacher preparation, however, in this area is lacking. Although teachers are aware of student mental health concerns, they report feeling overwhelmed and unsure about how to provide support. Insufficient preparation and uncertain feelings about mental health may pose barriers to collaboration. Program descriptions also dominate the literature and research is lacking. Although scholars have argued that collaboration may lower teacher stress, research has largely neglected the perspectives of teachers. This paper presents the findings of a quantitative study (N = 204) that aimed to understand the teachers’ experiences with collaboration.

Authors

• Elizabeth A Mellin, Binghamton University - SUNY

• Annahita Ball, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Aidyn Iachini, University of South Carolina

• Nicole M Togno, George Mason University

• Ana Maria Rodriguez, Binghamton University - SUNY