Symposia
Dissemination & Implementation Science
Annaleis Giovanetti, M.A.
GRA
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Ilana Engel, M.A.
Graduate Student
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Stephanie Punt, Ph.D.
Fellow
University of California Los Angeles
Los angeles, California
Margaret Queen, PhD
Medical Student
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas
E Zhang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas
Skylar bellinger, PhD
Associate professor
KUMC
Kansas city, Kansas
Eve-Lynn Nelson, Ph.D.
Professor
University at Kansas
Parkville, Missouri
Background: Despite the rapid growth of telehealth services offered across settings, school-based telebehavioral health services implementation has been relatively slow. For these programs to be successfully implemented, it is essential to engage key stakeholders in the process, including families and telehealth support personnel or community champions. Our goal was to examine barriers and successes of implementation and the components necessary for the sustainability of these treatment services from caregivers and site coordinators or champions.
Methods: We conducted six semi-structured qualitative interviews with telehealth site coordinators and five semi-structured qualitative interviews with parents of children who received school-based telebehavioral health services before and during the pandemic. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to develop interview questions, and we used thematic analysis to guide the qualitative coding and analysis.
Results: The overarching themes identified by site coordinators included 1) benefits, challenges, and opportunities, 2) resources and support, and 3) work processes and challenges. Overarching themes of parents’ interviews included 1) accessibility and financial feasibility, 2) increased communication needs, and 3) importance of a care team. Both groups noted challenges with communication, paperwork, scheduling, finding appropriate space, and transitions between providers.
Conclusion: The emphasis on relationships, communication, continuity, and advocacy for families and students underscores how essential coordinators are for providing high-quality telehealth services in schools. The perspective of these stakeholders is critical for ensuring the continued successful implementation and sustainability of these services. Parent experiences can help shape future projects.