REPLICATION OF THE SYSTEMATIC SCREENING FOR BEHAVIOR DISORDERS (SSBD)PROCEDURE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF AT-RISK CHILDREN

The Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD) procedure was i mplemented by 58 teachers within a series of elementary schools in the state of Utah; a total of 1,446 elementary-school children were scree ned in this process. The focus of this investigation was upon replicat ion of the procedural integrity and outcomes of the SSBD screening-ide ntification procedure for children with school-related behavior disord ers. The study results indicated that the SSBD could accurately and ef ficiently identify children in need of special services, thus confirmi ng results of prior research. In addition, it was shown that the SSBD was viewed as cost efficient by its school-based users primarily becau se it (a) required less professional time than traditional school refe rral and assessment processes, and (b) allowed for the systematic, pro active screening of all students. The SSBD procedure also was preferre d as an initial screening device by the majority of participating teac hers and related-services professionals involved in its implementation .