Research shows rural students are experiencing social-behavioral and mental health challenges at unprecedented rates, placing them at risk for long-term negative outcomes.
With the effectiveness of family-school interventions in addressing social-behavioral and mental health needs at both school and home — especially in rural settings — professional development of rural practitioners is a priority.
Susan Sheridan, director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, is leading research to identify an effective professional development approach to prepare school-based specialists to implement the Teachers and Parents as Partners intervention to address behavioral challenges presented by rural students.
TAPP is a research-based, problem-solving and decision-making intervention developed by Sheridan and other Nebraska researchers that builds on student strengths and fosters collaboration among parents and teachers. It has been shown to enhance students’ academic, behavioral and social outcomes, and strengthen parent-teacher relationships.
“We’re always thinking about the best ways to be responsive to the needs of specific communities,” Sheridan said. “We are convinced that delivering TAPP online is critically important — not only in supporting practitioners as they learn to deliver TAPP, but also the students they serve. Right now, those students are at a higher risk than ever before, so timing is critical.”
The efficacy trial of TAPP Online will include 30 rural school-based specialists, or consultants, in Nebraska and Colorado, and 240 students. Through the virtual professional development platform — modules consisting of PowerPoint slides, video examples, practice guides and meeting protocols — consultants will learn about TAPP’s principles and procedures associated with the development of family-school partnerships.
Read more:
https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/tapp-online-brings-enhanced-support-to-rural-students-families-and-schools/