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The Mental Health Needs of Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities Placed in Special Education Programs In Urban Schools

FMHI Publication ID:

3029

Keywords:

special education, emotional disturbance, ED, urban, ESE, CBCL, systems of care, school-based, school

Contact:

Krista Kutash

Abstract

This paper describes the psychosocial characteristics of youth served in special education due to emotional disturbances in urban communities (N = 158). Data were also collected describing service utilization, academic functioning, and family characteristics. Ten schools in three mid-size urban cities participated. Results from the administration of standardized assessments revealed that the majority of students scored in the clinical range on the parent version of the Child Behavior Checklist and the Columbia Impairment Scale, indicating significant levels of emotional and behavioral impairment. Further, behavior problems began at an early age, and most of the youths’ school careers have been in a special education setting. The most common services currently being supplied by school personnel was individual counseling, while child-serving agency personnel were providing individual counseling for 17% of the youth.

Citation

Kutash, K., & Duchnowski, A. J. (2004). The mental health needs of youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities placed in special education programs in urban schools. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 13(2), 235-248.