Addressing Social Influencers of Health and Education Using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports Framework

June 1, 2021

 

Factors that impact health, well-being, and learning are also known as Social Influencers of Health and Education (SIHE). The SIHE are essential to understand because the social, environmental, or economic conditions in which individuals are born, live, learn, play, work, worship, and age, impact their health status and educational achievement.  Screening and/or surveillance for SIHE can uncover the extent to which these may positively or negatively impact individuals, groups, or the whole school community. With this information, schools with their integrated health and mental health professionals – and namely school-based health centers (SBHCs) and comprehensive school mental health systems (CSMHSs) – can provide interventions that mitigate the effects of SIHE associated with poor short and long-term outcomes.

This brief describes how the use of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework for SIHE-related interventions promotes alignment with and can increase the benefits of other academic, social-emotional, and behavioral interventions already offered in school. Developed by the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, the School-Based Health Alliance, and the National Center for School Mental Health, it is part of a series of publications to support the advancement of tools to understand and address SIHE.
 

Read the Brief