2026/07/23 by Kate Somerville
Health Professions · Psychology · #Action research #Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development #Citizen journalism #Equity (law) #Health Policy Implementation Science #Mental health #Participatory action research #Policy analysis #Public health #Public policy #Rubric #School Health and Nursing Education
paper · doi:10.3102/00028312261461613
published in American Educational Research Journal (SAGE Publishing)
openalex publication_date 2026/07/23 · openalex created_date 2026/07/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
This study used critical policy analysis and youth participatory action research to engage 12 high school students in critically examining and reimagining systems of school mental health policy and practice in U.S. public schools. Through a series of 10 online meetings, youth researchers from diverse school communities across the country collected and analyzed data from their own schools and communities, drawing on their differing lived experiences and identities to collaboratively develop a school mental health policy rubric . The rubric contains seven policy recommendations grounded in a critical prevention framework, centering power shifts and equity as essential to promoting youth thriving. Findings highlight the value of youth expertise in designing school mental health systems that meet young people’s needs.