WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Experts say behavior help needed in schools

Experts say behavior help needed in schools

By Caroline Moses - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Teachers and counselors are looking for alternative ways to treat children in the "Evolutions" program and those who may need it in the future. It's the state-run program for kids with severe behavioral problems, and it's expected to shut down in less than two months. The closure could mean troubled children will wind up the public school system unprepared.

Without Evolutions, there is no specific school setup to focus on children with behavioral issues. Experts say alternative schools like Valley Park are not set up to treat the types of mental health issues these children have.

"It's a challenging situation," said teacher Liza Armshaw.

Armshaw teaches at Southdowns Pre-K Center which is part of the East Baton Rouge public school system, where children with and without disabilities learn together in one classroom. Armshaw's students are still young, but she says already she can see which ones will need more help than she can provide.

"Sometimes we don't have enough hands, and it's very difficult," said Armshaw.

In the past those children had the option to get specialized treatment and schooling at "Evolutions" inside the Greenwell Springs Mental Health Hospital. But as of mid-December, that program will no longer exist.  Current "Evolutions" students like 10-year-old Randall will go back into the public school system.

"There aren't resources sitting around, and I've not been told anything about the money going to be saved from 'Evolutions' coming on to the community side," said Capitol Area Human Services District Director Jan Kasofsky.

About one-third of Evolutions' students were referred by Capitol Area Human Services.  Kasofsky says without "Evolutions," many kids like Randall could end up in other alternative schools like Valley Park.

"I really hope this is an opportunity to start to provide this kind of emotional support in the alternative schools," said Kasofsky.

Kasofsky says alternative schools are where the need is greatest.

"What do you mean they don't have behavioral support in an alternative school? Because withso few of these kids it's really a learning disability.  The majority of them are behavioral disorders," said Kasofsky.

Right now, Capitol Area Human Services has social workers in 34 schools.  They worked with about 900 students this past year.  But for now, none of the social workers are set up inside the alternative school system.

Copyright 2009 WAFB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.