K-12 Education: DOD Need to Assess Its Capacity to Provide Mental Health Services to Students. Report to Congressional Committees. GAO-25-107247
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| Title: | K-12 Education: DOD Need to Assess Its Capacity to Provide Mental Health Services to Students. Report to Congressional Committees. GAO-25-107247 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Jacqueline M. Nowicki, US Government Accountability Office (GAO) |
| Source: | US Government Accountability Office. 2025. |
| Availability: | US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 40 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Intended Audience: | Policymakers |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials |
| Education Level: | Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Elementary Secondary Education, Mental Health Programs, School Health Services, Access to Health Care, Barriers, Student Needs, Suicide, Military Schools, Military Personnel, Military Service, Program Evaluation, Foreign Countries, Family Counseling, Individual Counseling |
| Geographic Terms: | North Carolina, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guam |
| Abstract: | Department of Defense (DOD) research has found that military families and children face severe barriers to accessing mental health care, harming family well-being and military readiness. Without proper treatment, children with mental health concerns are at risk of school failure, substance misuse, and suicide. Senate Report 118-58 includes a provision for Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine mental health services in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools. This review examines (1) mental health concerns of DODEA students, (2) DODEA's capacity to implement its new MTSS framework, and (3) the extent to which DOD has assessed how well mental health programs in DODEA schools meet student needs and their collaboration in doing so. GAO analyzed suicide-related incident data collected by DODEA for school years 2022-23 and 2023-24, the most recent data available. GAO also conducted site visits to 27 schools and eight military treatment facilities on 11 military installations across DODEA's three regions. GAO interviewed DOD and DODEA officials, reviewed relevant federal laws, policies, and procedures, and assessed DOD actions against policy and relevant federal standards. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED672810 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Department of Defense (DOD) research has found that military families and children face severe barriers to accessing mental health care, harming family well-being and military readiness. Without proper treatment, children with mental health concerns are at risk of school failure, substance misuse, and suicide. Senate Report 118-58 includes a provision for Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine mental health services in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools. This review examines (1) mental health concerns of DODEA students, (2) DODEA's capacity to implement its new MTSS framework, and (3) the extent to which DOD has assessed how well mental health programs in DODEA schools meet student needs and their collaboration in doing so. GAO analyzed suicide-related incident data collected by DODEA for school years 2022-23 and 2023-24, the most recent data available. GAO also conducted site visits to 27 schools and eight military treatment facilities on 11 military installations across DODEA's three regions. GAO interviewed DOD and DODEA officials, reviewed relevant federal laws, policies, and procedures, and assessed DOD actions against policy and relevant federal standards. |
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