But, we have those wheels squeeking just a little further along.
Bottom line - the judge ordered a new psychiatric evaluation for difficult child 2, since the docs don't all agree on difficult child's diagnosis. He won't rule on all the charges against difficult child 2 until he has that evaluation and a recommendation from his committee.
Thank Heavens, one of his "committee" is a child psychiatrist & actually has a clue!
In fact, I met with the psychiatrist from the judge's committee after court today. (The judge asked him to sit in on today's hearing.) He made some great recommendations in terms of things to bring up to difficult child's psychiatrist. (He mentioned her by her first name, so I'm assuming they know each other well.) He mentioned getting an EEG for difficult child 2, as that would show abnormalities in his frontal lobe that would confirm or eliminate Intermittent Explosive Disorder. He also said that the evaluation will be instrumental in getting difficult child 2 the help he needs from Department of Juvenile Justice. He mentioned several pilot programs he is working with Department of Juvenile Justice on and some of the criteria difficult child 2 would need to meet in order to be eligible. (One of which being a recent psychiatric evaluation.)
Another recommendation from both the judge and the committee psychiatrist was in support of re-enrolling difficult child in public school. Did that this afternoon. He starts school Monday morning. We met with the Dept. Chair for Special Services for the school. The plan is to mainstream difficult child under RTI (Response to intervention) so that he has some supports while we go through the process of getting an IEP. Basically, his teachers will all have to be part of a team that includes reps from Special Services and the Asst. Principle. They'll observe and assist for the first 12 weeks. During that 12 weeks, they meet weekly to discuss difficult child 2's needs, possible modifications, etc. At the end of 12 weeks, we all meet for the IEP planning. Between the school folks, me, therapist and doctor recommendations, etc., we should be able to come up with a comprehensive plan for difficult child 2.
I think difficult child 2 is getting about as much support - between the school and the programs from Department of Juvenile Justice - as we can get and still be out patient. But it's all temporary while we look for the right Residential Treatment Center (RTC) placement for him. YDC is basically going to be a last-ditch thing. If all else fails and we can't keep the other kids and I safe any other way, then we'll have no choice but to let the judge lock difficult child 2 up in YDC.
The wheels are turning slowly, but luckily enough we have a judge that wants to have difficult child 2 in the best possible placement & is willing to do whatever he can from the bench to help make that happen.
Bottom line - the judge ordered a new psychiatric evaluation for difficult child 2, since the docs don't all agree on difficult child's diagnosis. He won't rule on all the charges against difficult child 2 until he has that evaluation and a recommendation from his committee.
Thank Heavens, one of his "committee" is a child psychiatrist & actually has a clue!
In fact, I met with the psychiatrist from the judge's committee after court today. (The judge asked him to sit in on today's hearing.) He made some great recommendations in terms of things to bring up to difficult child's psychiatrist. (He mentioned her by her first name, so I'm assuming they know each other well.) He mentioned getting an EEG for difficult child 2, as that would show abnormalities in his frontal lobe that would confirm or eliminate Intermittent Explosive Disorder. He also said that the evaluation will be instrumental in getting difficult child 2 the help he needs from Department of Juvenile Justice. He mentioned several pilot programs he is working with Department of Juvenile Justice on and some of the criteria difficult child 2 would need to meet in order to be eligible. (One of which being a recent psychiatric evaluation.)
Another recommendation from both the judge and the committee psychiatrist was in support of re-enrolling difficult child in public school. Did that this afternoon. He starts school Monday morning. We met with the Dept. Chair for Special Services for the school. The plan is to mainstream difficult child under RTI (Response to intervention) so that he has some supports while we go through the process of getting an IEP. Basically, his teachers will all have to be part of a team that includes reps from Special Services and the Asst. Principle. They'll observe and assist for the first 12 weeks. During that 12 weeks, they meet weekly to discuss difficult child 2's needs, possible modifications, etc. At the end of 12 weeks, we all meet for the IEP planning. Between the school folks, me, therapist and doctor recommendations, etc., we should be able to come up with a comprehensive plan for difficult child 2.
I think difficult child 2 is getting about as much support - between the school and the programs from Department of Juvenile Justice - as we can get and still be out patient. But it's all temporary while we look for the right Residential Treatment Center (RTC) placement for him. YDC is basically going to be a last-ditch thing. If all else fails and we can't keep the other kids and I safe any other way, then we'll have no choice but to let the judge lock difficult child 2 up in YDC.
The wheels are turning slowly, but luckily enough we have a judge that wants to have difficult child 2 in the best possible placement & is willing to do whatever he can from the bench to help make that happen.