An IEP is a cooperative venture between the school and the parents, and many parents have refused them out of the belief that it sets their child apart, or that there is a stigma attached to conditions in the IEP, such as outside counseling and evaluation.

Funding has been cut in many districts which may have made IEP’s more difficult to get for parents who want them, which seems to be what you are saying, however my experiences with Hennepin County Social Services have largely been positive. I have yet to meet a parent who was unable to find counseling for themselves or their child, regardless of income or insurance status. You may be the first.

However, my article was not about how difficult it is or is not to find mental health services, nor was it about how well-meaning parents find themselves frustrated by a broken system — it was about one child in Florida whose parents believe no such services were necessary. We do not know what kind of evaluation took place, or the quality of the evaluation, because those records are confidential. The child was released in the morning because that was the extent of the hold.

The child is obviously in pain. My point was and is that the school has very limited resources and control over that — it is the parents responsibility — yet the parents refuse to believe that their son needs help.

I understand that your frustration over your individual situation informs your reaction, but again, this was not a story about parents who can’t find the help they need, it was about parents who don’t think help is necessary.

I would have written quite a different article if the parents were suing over lack of any help being available for the child in question.

It is not easy to come to terms with the possibility that your child has real mental health issues. Once you check your gut for the 400th time, thinking something is just not right with your child – you have to get through the denial. After that…

It is not easy to get an IEP, it is not easy to find a hospital bed for a child in crisis with mental health issues, it is not easy to find a child/adolescent psychiatrist, it is not easy to find services period!!!

It sounds like this child has anxiety issues, at a minimum, therefore the temper tantrum. It sounds like these parents are still in denial, afraid and just reacting.

I think the police may have done the right thing – but look – the child was released the next morning which means there was absolutely not enough time to conduct any kind of meaningful evaluation of the child.

Do yourself a favor before making long distance judgments about situations with which you are not familiar.

Contact Pacer Center: http://www.pacer.org/
Contact the Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative: http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/portal/site/HCInternet/menuitem.3f94db53874f9b6f68ce1e10b1466498/?vgnextoid=208db6764b9fc010VgnVCM1000000f094689RCRD

Do some research about how many child/adolescent mental health providers, especially psychiatrists are in the area, remember to ask what insurance they accept and if they are taking new patients. See how long it takes to get in to see a well respected provider.

This really isn’t a situation to just react to and blog about. After some research, blog away. And contact Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, http://www.macmh.org/ I’m sure they’d welcome your advocacy.

Thanks.

This kid’s in pain. I’m sure a lawyer will help heaps with that.

It’s surprising how MANY parents just can’t wrap their heads around the idea that their babies could ever do anything wrong!