Foundations of School Consultation
Chair: Nancy Rappaport M.D.

The goal of this symposium is to provide pertinent information to psychiatrists who consult to schools.

David Shaffer M.D. presents the rationale for case-finding suicidal And depressed teens. Evidence for effective treatments coupled with the phenomenon of a declining suicide rate provides support for screening
for depression in school. Different approaches to case finding/screening are compared. Nancy Rappaport M.D. presents a framework of guidelines for exploring the potential threat of a student and guidelines for protecting all students as well as helping the aggressive student alter aggressive behaviors as needed.

Drawing from research on school violence and eleven years of consulting to an urban district important operating principles and potential obstacles will be discussed. Jeff Bostic M.D. provides participants with useful guidelines derived from the available findings on school responses to disasters occurring in recent years.

Common responses of school counselors and mental health staff from four Northeastern schools to the initial events of September 11,2001 are analyzed to inform the management of disasters.

Richard Mattison M.D. provides research-based knowledge about special education students and the frequent consultation questions posed by the school staff. Practical procedures and specific materials are presented.