The Effectiveness of Cultural Adjustment and Trauma Services (CATS): Generating Practice- Based Evidence on a Comprehensive, School-Based Mental Health Intervention for Immigrant Youth Sarah Beehler Dina Birman Ruth Campbell 10027/8589 https://indigo.uic.edu/articles/journal_contribution/The_Effectiveness_of_Cultural_Adjustment_and_Trauma_Services_CATS_Generating_Practice-_Based_Evidence_on_a_Comprehensive_School-Based_Mental_Health_Intervention_for_Immigrant_Youth/10767734 A collaborative study of Cultural Adjustment and Trauma Services (CATS), a comprehensive, school-based mental health program for traumatized immigrant children and adolescents, was conducted to generate practice-based evidence on the service delivery model across two school districts. Program effectiveness was assessed by testing whether client functioning and PTSD symptoms improved as a result of 7 separate service elements. An array of clinical services including CBT, supportive therapy, and coordinating services were provided to all students, and an evidence-based intervention for trauma, TF-CBT, was implemented with a subset of students. Greater quantities of CBT and supportive therapy increased functioning, while greater quantities of coordinating services decreased symptoms of PTSD. TF-CBT services were associated with both improved functioning and PTSD symptoms, although TF-CBT was implemented with fidelity to the overall comprehensive service model rather than the structured intervention model. Results suggest the comprehensive school-based model was effective, though different service components affected different student outcomes. Implications of these findings for immigrant mental health interventions and implementing structured evidence-based practices into community mental health programs are discussed. Suggestions are made for future research on existing mental health practices with immigrants. 2012-08-20 00:00:00 untagged