program is an APA-accredited and NASP approved training program that provides applied learning opportunities to promote the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children and their families. School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning,
and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. The School Psychology training at USM prepares behavioral scientists who can apply their skills to the solution of a broad range of problems related to the processes of education. Generalized, empirically-based problem-solving skills represent the program's primary emphasis and are seen as essential for graduates to assume the diverse role associated with school psychology today and in the future. The School Psychology program trains practitioners who will demonstrate a behavioral, data-based problem solving perspective. Students are trained to identify strengths and needs across diverse clients, and interpret assessment data and develop corresponding interventions. Students receive rigorous training in implementation of interventions at individual, group, and school level. Students receive training in direct service provision, consultation, and the provision of supervision. Program emphasizes need for students to become intelligent consumers and producers of research, and are trained to deliver culturally sensitive and ethical practices. One of the program’s primary training objectives is to produce School Psychologists who approach their professional activities from a cohesive frame of reference. The data-based problem solving model teaches students to view all school psychological functions from a problem-solving perspective requiring systematic progression through steps of (a) problem identification, (b) problem solution, and (c) problem evaluation. In addition, the data-based problem solving model stresses the importance of basing hypotheses and conclusions on empirical data.
