The Programs Guide
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The KidsMatter Primary Programs Guide has been developed to assist schools in making informed decisions about appropriate and effective school mental health programs. There are numerous mental health and wellbeing programs available for primary school students each targeting different concerns or issues that may arise in schools. Some programs are classroom-based and intended for all students. Others focus on specific issues and are intended to be provided to small groups of students. Other programs may focus on staff development and learning to support a positive school culture and community. The KidsMatter Primary Programs Guide provides schools with information about available programs and, where available, their documented effectiveness in order to help schools select quality programs that address the particular needs of their students. Click here to provide feedback on using the KidsMatter Primary Programs Guide. |
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Structure of the guide
The guide presents information on school mental health programs in two sections – Categorisation Tables and Program Summaries.
Categorisation Tables
This section provides tables that categorise all the school mental health and wellbeing programs that have been reviewed to date (according to a number of criteria) to assist schools in program comparison and selection. Programs are grouped according to their relevance to the four components of KidsMatter:
- A positive school community
- Social and emotional learning for students
- Working with parents and carers
- Helping children experiencing mental health difficulties.
Each of these four components has a separate Categorisation Table and Key. Relevant programs are classified within each table. Criteria used for categorising programs include factors such as whether programs:
- target the skills that will enhance children’s social and emotional learning
- have been shown to be effective through research
- have been specifically designed for special student groups
The Categorisation Tables can be used by schools to select new mental health and wellbeing programs, to increase the likelihood that a program will meet their needs and effectively bring about the desired change. They can also be used to review the ratings of mental health and wellbeing programs that are currently being used in schools.
Program Summaries
This section provides more detailed information about each mental health and wellbeing program that has been reviewed for the guide in a summarised format. Program Summaries include:
- an overview of the program
- information on the research evaluation of the program
- details of how the program is implemented
- contact details for obtaining programs and approximate costs
- an indication on which KidsMatter Component the program is relevant to
The Program Summaries are best used to find out further information about a program once it has been selected from the categorisation tables.
Development of the guide
In compiling the Programs Guide, KidsMatter Primary identified an extensive range of current school-based programs. Programs were selected for inclusion in the guide on the basis that they were specifically designed for primary school-aged students, for their parents and carers, or for school staff and were widely available and accessible within Australia. A reference group comprising experts in children’s mental health assisted with establishing explicit and relevant criteria for reviewing and categorising the programs in accordance with the KidsMatter framework. It is important to note that inclusion of a program in this guide does not constitute an endorsement by KidsMatter. Program authors and/or developers have been specifically requested not to represent the inclusion of their program in the guide as an endorsement by KidsMatter.
Updating the guide
To ensure that the KidsMatter Primary Programs Guide remains a key mental health resource for school communities, the guide will be regularly updated to include summaries of all the key mental health and wellbeing programs available to be used in Australian primary schools.
Let us know if you notice any program information contained in the guide that is out of date by contacting KidsMatter at enquiries@kidsmatter.edu.au.
