NC-BELL Researchers at the Center of the Work

At the heart of the story are Sheps researchers from NC-BELL (North Carolina Behavioral Health Evaluation and Learning Lab), whose work is generating some of the first statewide, systematic evidence on school-based behavioral telehealth.

The article weaves in insights from NC-BELL investigators Emily Hutchens and Faith Albertson, highlighting both the promise of early findings and the ongoing nature of the research. Hutchens emphasized that schools offering behavioral telehealth are already reporting reductions in student behavioral challenges and disruptions—an encouraging signal that these programs may be improving day-to-day school environments. She noted that even incremental improvements at the school level can be meaningful for educators and students alike.

Albertson underscored that the team’s work is still underway, with data collection continuing across hundreds of schools. Together with their NC-BELL colleagues, the researchers have already gathered responses from nearly 300 schools, providing an unprecedented look at how these programs are functioning statewide.

The team is now working to build on these early perception-based findings by incorporating student-level data—such as attendance and disciplinary outcomes—to better measure the real-world impact of behavioral telehealth. At the same time, the research is identifying ongoing challenges, including delays in accessing services for some students, which will help inform improvements to program design and implementation.