Examining the Influence of Interprofessional Team Collaboration on Student-Level Outcomes through School-Community Partnerships

Studies examining student-level outcomes associated with interprofessional team collaboration in schools remain anecdotal despite repeated calls for well-designed, rigorous, multimethod research. The purpose of the current study was to use a mixed-methods approach to explore how interprofessional team collaboration affects student-level outcomes and what student-level outcomes are associated with interprofessional team collaboration. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 school professionals serving on interdisciplinary consultation, assessment, referral, and education (CARE) teams in four Title I elementary schools. In addition, researchers examined quantitative data on student-level outcomes for 340 students served by the CARE teams in the four Title I schools. Rates of absenteeism, office discipline referrals, a curriculum-based measure, and a behavioral health measure were examined to explore relationships between interprofessional team collaboration and student-level outcomes. Qualitative findings indicated that interprofessional team collaboration improved coordination of and access to services, as well as consistent follow-through on plans and interventions. The CARE team processes also were associated with marked improvements in specific academic, behavioral, and mental health outcomes among students seen by the CARE teams. Results point to the important contributions interprofessional teams can make in schools when working together to address student needs.