A Qualitative Study Exploring Children’s Mental Health Needs and Solutions Including School-Community Partnerships in Texas Border Communities and Beyond

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Department

Educational Administration

Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2026

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the reasons why school-based mental health programs are needed in Texas schools, especially in schools along the Texas border where many children deal with long-term impacts related to their immigration experience. Participants in this study included educators and nonprofit agency leaders from South Texas, the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and West Texas, specifically El Paso. Interviews focused on identifying the specific issues or concerns that children in Texas face that lead to negative school outcomes or negative personal outcomes and the potential outcomes if mental health services were expanded. Additionally, participants were asked how school-community partnerships might assist in supporting an expansion of mental health services in schools, either through funding or providing resources. Some participants shared that their schools offered Telehealth or technology-driven programs such as TCHATT (Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine), and others indicated that their school district offered a school-based mental health program with licensed clinicians. Results suggest that most participants were in favor of school-community partnerships to expand current mental health services for children if implemented with consideration for oversight and if the service providers were trained and licensed. Themes related to participants’ reasons for support included accessibility, consistency, and an expansion of services. Other themes included an emphasis on advocacy, a desire to help children impacted by their immigration experience and hope for increased community engagement in the future. The conceptual framework of the study drew from three different frameworks: transformation, the SWIFT framework, and cultural capital. The findings can assist school and community leaders as they advocate for mental health services for children, made possible through either school-community partnerships or other community-based resources. Keywords: Texas nonprofit agencies, school-based mental health care, school-community partnerships, immigration experiences and children, mental health concerns for children in Texas, children and barriers to mental health care

Advisor

Peter Williams

Subject Categories

Education

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