Our coaches (advocates) help navigate the educational system, create bridges between parents and schools, and train parents to advocate for their child. To maximize educational opportunities for students with mental health disorders, our coaches speak on behalf of children with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges.

We do this by:

• Explain the rights and responsibilities families have in the school system.
• Assist in determining educational needs and the most appropriate placements, accommodations, and modifications.
• Helping families and school teams develop effective individual program plans, such as IEP/IIIP/IFSP, or 504 accommodations plans.
• Guiding families toward increasing competency and confidence so they can act as their child’s advocate.
• Assisting adolescents through the transition planning process and by supporting their ability to advocate for themselves.
• Providing telephone coaching, file reviews, and workshops; we also attend school meetings when possible.

Mental Health Advocacy

Our coaches help professionals & educators learn more about early and effective interventions for children’s mental health disorders by offering support, information, referrals, and assistance; by building bridges between families and professionals and educators.

Our coaches will:

• Speak on behalf of children with mental health disorders.
• Explain the rights and responsibilities families have in the multiple systems that serve children with mental health disorders.
• Help families understand their child’s diagnosis and explore options for suitable services.
• Connect parents with support groups in their areas.
• Guide families toward increasing competency and confidence so they can act as their child’s advocate.
• Assist parents who are providing support and information to other parents.
• Provide telephone coaching, file reviews, family workshops, and accompany families to meetings when possible.

Do you want to initiate change in the children’s mental health system?  Change starts with you!