Strong Roots, Connected Families: Navigating Youth Mental Health Together

Session 3: Bridging Home & Classroom

Partnering with Your Child’s School

- Core Focus: Demystifying the school system, building collaborative relationships with school staff, and advocating effectively for academic and emotional accommodations.

- Key Learning Objectives:

- Navigate school support roles (school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and Family Resource and Youth Services Centers / FRYSCs).

- Understand the basics of 504 Accommodation Plans, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and MTSS/RTI behavioral tiers.

- Move from adversarial advocacy to a collaborative partnership model.

- Core Discussion Topics:

- How to draft an effective, solution-oriented introductory email or meeting request to teachers and counselors.

- Documenting academic, sensory, and behavioral barriers without shame.