Interdisciplinary Approach for Addressing the Behavioral Health Needs in Rural and Underserved School Districts of Georgia.

This article focuses on the implementation of the School-Based Behavioral Health Professional Pipeline project (SBBHPP), an interdisciplinary academic program designed to train graduate-level social workers and preservice teachers to address behavioral health challenges in rural and underserved school districts in northwestern Georgia. It highlights the widespread behavioral health issues among U.S. children, including depression, anxiety, and trauma, and the significant barriers to accessing care such as stigma, lack of qualified professionals, and logistical challenges. The SBBHPP program emphasizes culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and collaborative training to prepare future school social workers and teachers to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, aiming to improve behavioral health outcomes and reduce the social worker–student ratio in high-need communities. The program also provides in-service training for current school staff and incorporates formative evaluation to refine its approach.