Can We Talk?

This book provides information about the current status of mental health amongst our youth with a brief description of some of the most common, yet severe, emotional dysregulation disorders we see in our schools. Following an overview of the ways students diagnosed with mental health or behavior disorders are served and taught, as well as a summary of foundational theories to support current trends of integrated learning environments, the author introduces a tiered approach for developing teacher, administrator, and paraprofessional development for meeting students where they're at; for developing life skills that increase these students' readiness to learn in school and succeed in life. Recommendations for pursuing federal funding for professional development by adhering to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) guidelines are also included.