Addressing Behavioral and Mental Health Issues within Transition Planning

1. Addressing Behavioral and Mental Health Issues within Transition Planning IDEA Partnership

2. The IDEA Partnership extends appreciation to the • Transition Community of Practice • Behavior/Mental Health Community of Practice • for their foundational collaborative work • -and- • acknowledges the contributions of cross-stakeholders, representing • Teachers, • General Education Administrators, • Special Education Administrators, • Specialized Instructional Support Providers, • Families, • Higher Education, and • Technical Assistance Providers, • in the creation of this presentation. IDEA Partnership

3. Agenda • Shared vocabulary • Rationale • Implementation • Process • Issues • Resources for further exploration IDEA Partnership

4. Creating shared understanding through a shared vocabulary... • Behavioral health • Mental health • Transition planning • Relationship with well-being of body, mind, and spirit • Balanced emotional and behavioral adjustment IDEA Partnership • Course of action / services for successful movement from school to adult life

5. Rationale… Learning Impact • Graduation rates • 75% - general education students (2008) • 76% - all students with disabilities (2009) • 41% - students with emotional disabilities (2009) • Traumatic events • 25% of children experience traumatic events before the age of 16 • If left untreated, can lead to long term difficulties in school, relationships, and jobs IDEA Partnership

6. Rationale… Career Impact • Median income (2009) • HS dropouts - $21,000 • HS diploma - $30,000 • Associate’s degree - $37,000 • Bachelor’s degree - $45,000 • Master’s degree - $60,000 • Career/job choice IDEA Partnership

7. Implementation process… • Early identification • Transition assessment and planning • Collaborative decision-making • Implementation of evidence-based interventions/practices/services/supports IDEA Partnership

8. Early identification • Warning signs • Behavioral • Academic • Medical • Cultural issues • Training in cultural awareness • Implementation of culturally responsive education and supports has; NOT is IDEA Partnership

9. Transition assessment and planning • Assessment • Based on skills, preferences and interests • Linked to work, education, living and personal and social environments • Form bases for goals and services • Planning • Collaborative decision-making process • Identification of needed services to move successfully from secondary school to adult life IDEA Partnership

10. Collaborative decision-making • Invite/include all stakeholders • Ensure youth and family involvement • Focus on and plan from strengths of youth IDEA Partnership

11. Strategy implementation • Prevention • Social skills instruction • Cross-environments and settings • Reinforcement and rewards • Multiple techniques based on student need • Intervention • At earliest sign of support need • Highly individualized • Increased intensity • Coordination with community services IDEA Partnership

12. For further information… • Center for School Mental Health www.centerforschoolmentalhealth.org • Parent Technical Assistance Center Network www.parentcenternetwork.org/national/aboutus.html • Transition to Independence Process www.tipstars.org IDEA Partnership

13. Reflections!Questions?Discussion. ? . ! ? . ! IDEA Partnership ! ?