The Expanded School Mental Health Collaboration Instrument [School Version]: Development and Initial Psychometrics

This article presents the psychometric properties of the Expanded School Mental Health Collaboration Instrument [School Version] (ESMHCI [SV]), a new measure for assessing ESMH collaboration from the perspective of school-employed professionals. A three-scale instrument (types of collaboration, influences on collaboration, and perceived benefits of collaboration) was initially developed based on theory, findings from focus group interviews, and a review of the literature. Exploratory factor analyses defined a set of factors for each of the three scales. Initial psychometric examination indicates preliminary evidence for validity and internal reliability. Implications for school professionals, policymakers, and researchers are offered.