Severe Behavioral and Emotional Challenges and Child Welfare

Young children who experience severe developmental and behavioral challenges create difficult family dynamics that include increased care necessity, financial strain, social emotional strain, and other known difficulties. Due to the increasing prevalence of such disorders which may include autism, severe emotional challenges, and other neurodevelopmental problems, many child welfare workers across different systems are tasked with supporting children and their families impacted by these challenges. Communication difficulties and problems with emotional regulation, for example, create unique yet not uncommon barriers. In this seminar, risk factors for children and their families that may lead to issues surrounding child welfare will be discussed, as well as ways to support young children with high needs during complex transitions.

Supports for managing social/communication deficits alongside challenging behaviors which may present during custody transitions, court or other legal proceedings, a evaluations associated with such cases will be discussed.