Welcome to Project BEAMS!

Behavioral, Emotional And Mental Health Supports in Schools: Collaborative Practices to Improve Special Educator & School Psychologist Training

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An Overview of Project BEAMS

Project BEAMS was a federally funded training grant project from 2018-2023.

While the project had concluded, its initiatives improved the preservice preparation of school psychologists (SP) and special educators (SE) to serve diverse students with behavioral, emotional, and mental health challenges in California's public schools.

Project BEAMS involved SPs & SEs in interdisciplinary training and shared collaboration via: 

1. Research-based courses in Autism, Ethics, & Applied Behavioral Analysis;
2. Seminars, where trainees discussed readings, gave cross-disciplinary presentations, and practiced collaboration;
3. Clinical practicum experience paired SPs and SEs, who worked together in classrooms to provide intensive interventions;
4. Summer institutes were held, where SEs and SPs learned about leading research (Day 1) and built capacity around mental health services (Day 2);
5. Co-attendanced at professional conferences. 

Competencies included interdisciplinary knowledge & collaboration; enhanced communication & consultation; evidence-based interventions with cultural contexts for understanding behavior and mental health; and action research & data-based decision making.

Scholar Testimonials

Contact

Dr. Katina Lambros at [email protected] for more information.