The School Mental Health Collaborative is made up of researchers and scholars from the Universities of California, South Florida, and Wisconsin. We partner with schools to find ways to support the mental health of children and adolescents in the classroom. Our work informs policy and practices that promote the social-emotional and behavioral success of all students.
School Mental Health Collaborative Graduate Student Research Award
This $1,000 scholarship is designed to support the research activities of a graduate student in School Psychology who is conducting a thesis or dissertation on a topic relevant to school mental health. Applications due January 30, 2026
We study how to identify and address the mental health needs of students in the classroom
Assessments & intervention materials for schools & families
Guidance and support for schools & practitioners
Training programs for the next generation of school mental health researchers & practitioners
School-Based Health Centers in Madison Schools
This research brief describes the school-based behavioral health clinics that opened in 4 Madison high schools during the 2023-2024 school year. Our data show that these school-based health centers are an effective way to increase access to mental health for students who typically struggle to get services.
Screening Students for Trauma
In this School Mental Health Practice Brief, Katie Eklund shares strategies for routinely screening students for trauma exposure.
The School Mental Health Collaborative 2023 Annual Report
The inaugural annual report of the School Mental Health Collaborative Center at the University of South Florida (USF).
Reducing Barriers to Systems-Level Implementation with Dr. Eklund
In this February 2025 episode of Not Your Average School Psychologist, Dr. Katie Eklund shares about her work with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), specifically her contributions to Tier 2 interventions. Dr. Eklund also discussed how she is working to address mental health shortages in schools and bridge the research-to-practice gap.
UW-Madison’s Katie Eklund On How To Support Children Following A Crisis Event
WORT Community Radio interviewed Katie Eklund following the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in December 2024. Katie shared strategies for supporting kids after a crisis event.
K-12 Crisis Prevention in Wake of ALCS shooting
Channel 3000 interviewed Katie Eklund following the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in December 2024. Katie describes how threat assessment can be used to identify and address concerns before violence occurs. She also provides ways to support kids affected by school violence.
Student-led network helps address shortage of mental health professionals in schools
From PBS Wisconsin (January 2024), Steven Potter reports on how peer support, school staff and psychology researchers are trying to keep up with the growing rate of mental health issues among students. Katie Eklund is interviewed as part of this report.
What’s being done to help mental health among school kids?
From PBS Wisconsin (December 2023), Steven Potter reports on how peer support, school staff and psychology researchers are trying to keep up with the growing rate of mental health issues among students. Katie Eklund is interviewed as part of this report.
‘They’re more likely to receive another down the road’: MMSD does away with out of school suspensions for elementary students
WKOW.com article from September 2023 about the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) change in the way they handle suspensions. As of October 2021, MMSD no longer uses out of school suspensions as punishment for elementary students. Katie Eklund is interviewed as part of this article.