This article analyzes the process and effects of changing Colorado's special education category of "significant identifiable emotional or behavior disorder" to "significant identifiable emotional disorder." The article reviews environmental forces precipitating definitional change, various opinions, the legislative decision,…

The exclusionary term, "social maladjustment," the definition in Public Law 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) of serious emotional disturbance, has been an enigma for special education. This paper attempts to limit the interpretation of social maladjustment in order to counter effects of such decisions as…

This report documents the failure of the educational and mental health systems to meet the needs of children with severe emotional disturbances and provides a guide for advocates at both the state and local levels. Part 1 identifies priorities obtained through a national survey and reports major thrusts, including a wider array of services,…

This monograph is based on experiences of the national Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) and describes a plan for developing and implementing community based systems of care for children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders and their families. It draws on examples from state mental health plans to illustrate planning…