Empowering School-Based Therapists with Evidence-Based Practice (Schafer-Clay)

Course overview

School practice is one of the largest employers of pediatric clinicians and evidence-based practice is essential in this area of practice. Evidence-based practice in the school setting is not only essential to best practice but is also required by law. Research shows clinicians do not discuss evidence when instructing students and struggle to justify their choices for assessment choices and treatment techniques (Grajo, Candler, & Sarafian, 2020; Lauderdale-Littin & Brennan 2018; Nichols, 2017). Participation in a short course on evidence-based practice improves clinicians' understanding, confidence, and use of high-quality clinical reasoning, decision-making, and use of evidence in their work settings (Lynch et al., 2023 and Nichols, 2017). This course will review evidence-based practice for therapists and the laws governing the use of evidence-based practice in the school setting. This will support practitioners' improvement in understanding and utilizing evidence-based practice when choosing assessments and planning treatments. There will be a question-and-answer session that allows the learner to integrate the material into their practice discipline. There will also be a small group multidisciplinary lab allowing therapy practitioners the opportunity to collaborate and practice evidence-based strategies for a case study scenario. This will improve one's comfort and ability to obtain, discuss, and use evidence-based strategies for the diverse students they serve. At the end of this course, clinicians will be able to discern the value of evidence through a proven 5-step method. Attendees will demonstrate confidence in the evidence-based evaluations and treatments they are choosing and endorsing to their school districts.