2015 NLADA Annual Conference

This workshop will provide its audience with tools on how to address complex mental health needs when those needs are interfering with the youth’s ability to engage in court and access services. This workshop will focus on how special education advocacy can be used to have youth identified for services, advocate for in-school services, and how this advocacy can inform a youth’s services in the community (as well as serve as a vehicle to educate courts if the youth are court involved). Take away skills will include: (1) a nuts and bolts understanding of how youth with mental health needs can receive school-based services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, (2) an outline of creative advocacy strategies to access mental health services outside of the school system, and what to do when appropriate services are not being provided, and (3) pointers on how to advocate in court for youth to receive service-centered sentencing.