Family Engagement With Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that significant numbers of children and adolescents experience a diagnosable mental illness, including substance abuse, with perhaps up to a quarter of youth exhibiting illness considered severe. These students could qualify for special education services under the category of emotional or behavior disturbance (E/BD), but many students are not receiving needed services. With a growing recognition of the need for school-based mental health services, more students may be able to have mental health needs met in school settings, and research shows that engaging families is critical for effective mental health treatment in children and youth. This chapter will review current research on challenges facing educators working to improve engagement with families of students with E/BD, and the most effective methods to encourage family engagement for students with E/BD to empower families and lessen the stigma of mental illness.