Developing a Culturally Competent Health and Behavioral Health Assessment Tool for Rural Schools.

This article focuses on the development and pilot implementation of the ABC-30, a brief integrated health risk assessment designed for school-based health clinics in rural Alabama. The assessment was created through a university–community partnership involving SMART (School Health Model for Academics, Reaching All, Transforming Lives) clinics, which provide integrated physical and behavioral health services in rural schools. The ABC-30 addresses barriers of previous assessments by being shorter, culturally relevant, and feasible for diverse clinic staff to administer, enabling earlier identification and follow-up for students at risk. Preliminary results from screening 1,625 students across five rural schools indicate high completion rates and effective identification of students needing health or behavioral health services. The article emphasizes the importance of community engagement, cultural adaptation, and integrated care models in improving health assessments and access to services in rural school settings.