Book Description

This monograph is intended to encourage policy formation and appropriate interventions for young children with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD). After an introductory chapter, the second chapter analyzes policy within the areas of both behavioral disorders and early intervention, including existing labels and eligibility criteria, reluctance to deal with the category of "serious emotional disturbance," the movement toward increased inclusion and diversity, the status of the medical model, and curriculum advancements. The third chapter discusses current assessment and intervention strategies and trends, including prevention and early intervention, family-centered practices, specialized personnel, and differentiated interventions. The fourth chapter presents a model technical assistance program which stresses the importance of home-school-community collaborative planning efforts. It also identifies trends in intervention approaches including classroom-based intervention, parent training and family-based programs, technical assistance teams, and the design of proactive interventions. A concluding chapter stresses the importance of expanding and developing research and model programs which are effective in identifying young children with E/BD and preventing and/or ameliorating further behavioral disabilities. (Contains 80 references.) (DB)