Question: “I am reaching out to anyone that can help me at this point...... my son, who is 8, has just gotten out of the mental hospital and he has emotional disorders. The hospital requested a one to one aide for him but the school will not fill my immediate request because of procedures they have to follow. I have requested all of the testing but the concern is immediate for my son’s well being. My son is very intelligent and does not have behavioral issues and he “hides or controls” his emotional disorders. Therefore; the school says we don’t have to do anything. I am afraid for his safety and well being. Why should I have to wait until something bad happens? If anyone can help me I would appreciate it.”

Response:

Initial Center Response: Sorry to hear about the problems you are having. Since we don't know where you are located, here are some general strategies for eliciting support. In each school district there is someone responsible for special education. You might want to make a contact with the person responsible to see what the district's procedures are (including the timetable). Often a formal letter initiates action and the date of the letter starts a "time clock." A "grievance" process can be started if, once the district has completed its procedures, you don't agree with the decision.

In the meantime, you might request 504 accommodations for your son. Here is information from the LD online website: “What is Section 504?

Over the past several years, educators have focused much effort on the role of classroom accommodations in addressing the special needs of students with attentional difficulties. Concerned parents were instrumental in getting the U.S. Department of Education to issue a joint policy memorandum clarifying that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, an antidiscrimination law, obliges public schools to provide accommodations to students with mental or physical impairment even if they do not qualify for special services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).”

If, you don't get the response from the district you are hoping for, each state department of education has a special education section. Often there is a person in that department designated to respond to parents' concerns and provide mediation.

Parent’s Reply: “I have asked the school to do a 504, and they say they don't know how to or what services they could give him. They told me that a 504 is for when people break their leg or something to that nature or meds have to be administered. The hospital he was released from requested a one to one aide and the school said they can't meet that request until the IEP is done. I have requested everything. Do you have any suggestions of what they could be doing asap, my son has tried to hurt himself in the past and I don't want it to happen again.”

Center follow up response: The 504 Accommodation Checklist provides examples of the wide range of accommodations for students with emotional problems The website states: “If you have a child that does not qualify for special education but has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, including learning, that child may qualify for special help in a regular classroom setting under section 504 of IDEA. The list of accommodations that may help your child succeed in the classroom ... can be used as a reference for parents and school personnel.” see http://www.come-over.to/FAS/IDEA504.htm

At this stage, it might help also to contact a parent advocacy group such as:
National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
9605 Medical Center Drive, Suite 280, Rockville, MD 20850
Office240/ 403-1901 Fax240/ 403-1909
ffcmh@ffcmh.org

  (1) “I suggest that this parent contact the local community mental health center (CMHC) to see what services, beyond those provided by the school, can assist the child and family. It sounds like there are mental health needs that require immediate attention that should not wait until the school issue is resolved. Also, it may be possible to access CMHC services that could supplement those provided by the school.”

  (2) “Is there a psychiatrist that would recommend a 1:1 at school and actually put it in writing?

-If the physician is asking for a 1:1 to prevent the student from harming himself then we need to ask, does she mean "attempting suicide", or intentional self-injurious behavior? They are treated differently.

-In addition, for either condition, if the physician believes the student is so high risk that they require a 1:1 then possibly they are not stable enough and require further stabilization prior to returning to school.

-Certainly the school district can supply a home-schooling situation on a temporary basis if necessary.

-The parent states, "my son has tried to hurt himself in the past and I don't want it to happen again." Unfortunately, even a 1:1 aid wouldn't be able to fully prevent that, nor is that their job.

-Their responsibility could be to help promote a safe environment for the student as it relates to their education, but nobody is going to take the responsibility to provide 100% safety for another individual.

-The parent could hire their own healthcare provider at their own expense and the school district would have to approve that person accompanying the student. This is frequently done with medically fragile students when a parent is not happy with what the school can provide, or if the student prefers a certain caregiver.

-Additionally, one must consider how this 1:1 aid will impact this student's emotional and social growth at school.

-Start with the treating psychiatrist, if they'll write an order for a "1:1 aid to prevent self harm", which I doubt, but if they will, then the school district may need to put this student in a very restrictive environment because they won't want to take the chance that the student could hurt himself while in their care.....for example, "must write with crayons and not pencils". For example, "no wire bound notebooks", for example, "no privacy in the restroom", etc.

-A parent is often uninformed as well as scared for the safety of her child.....I encourage her to start with the treating psychiatrist.”

Submit a request or comment now.

UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools
Dept. of Psychology, P.O.Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
tel: (310)825-3634
email: Linda Taylor ~ web: https://smhp.psych.ucla.edu