Files
Download Full Text (385 KB)
Description
Every Moment Counts (EMC) is a positive mental health promotion initiative that offers several initiatives to create inclusive environments that support student participation and emotional well-being throughout the school day. Comfortable Cafeteria, part of EMC, fosters positive mealtime experiences supporting peer interaction, emotional regulation, and inclusion. Many SBOT practitioners lack the resources to implement Comfortable Cafeteria, despite its benefits. This capstone project addresses the need for practical tools to help school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) practitioners integrate the Comfortable Cafeteria program into daily practice. Using the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, the project developed and disseminated an interactive, evidence-based video module designed to promote positive mealtime experiences, peer interaction, emotional regulation, and inclusion in school cafeterias. The module provides self-paced learning, real-life implementation examples, and downloadable resources to enhance practitioner competency. By equipping SBOT practitioners with accessible, adaptable strategies, this work aims to improve children’s participation, mental health, and overall well-being, while supporting long-term adoption of Every Moment Counts initiatives.
Publication Date
Summer 8-13-2025
Publisher
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Keywords
Comfortable cafeteria, School-based occupational therapy, Mental health, Well-being, School-age children, MTSS, Tier, Inclusive cafeteria, Emotional regulation, Peer interaction, Every moment counts, Program
Medical Subject Headings
Mental Health, Occupational Therapy
Disciplines
Adult and Continuing Education | Behavioral Disciplines and Activities | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Child Psychology | Disability and Equity in Education | Educational Leadership | Educational Psychology | Elementary Education | Elementary Education and Teaching | Health and Physical Education | Interprofessional Education | Mental Disorders | Occupational Therapy | Other Communication | Other Mental and Social Health | Other Psychiatry and Psychology | Other Social and Behavioral Sciences | Personality and Social Contexts | Place and Environment | Public Health Education and Promotion | School Psychology | Social Psychology | Social Psychology and Interaction | Special Education and Teaching | Speech Pathology and Audiology
Recommended Citation
Mondesir, R., & Blackwell, A. L. (2025, August 13). Increasing Implementation of the Comfortable Cafeteria Program to Promote School-Age Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being. Poster presented at the Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved from https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2025/23
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Behavioral Disciplines and Activities Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Child Psychology Commons, Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Elementary Education and Teaching Commons, Health and Physical Education Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Occupational Therapy Commons, Other Communication Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, School Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Special Education and Teaching Commons, Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons
Comments
Poster presented at the OTD Capstone Symposium held online at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Summer 2025.