Catalyzing the Primary Prevention Revolution in the Schools: The Role of School Psychologists

Abstract

The introduction of primary prevention programs into schools has great potential to expand the roles of school personnel. Working collaboratively, school psychologists, teachers, and school administrators could facilitate adoption of social skills and health promotion programs. Leaders within schools are needed to initiate the move toward primary prevention. School psychologists are ideally placed to take a leadership role in this shift toward primary prevention. However, they need to receive more information about primary prevention, both in training programs and in written works, if they are to be adequately prepared to introduce programs and to consult to school personnel. The information that school psychologists are currently exposed to provides an inadequate level of detail for those who wish to implement such programs. We offer recommendations to school psychologists and members of other professions within the schools on how to acquire the information they need to serve as leaders in the primary prevention revolution.