COURSE TITLE:

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES & STUDENTS

NO. OF CREDITS:

5 QUARTER CREDITS
[semester equivalent = 3.33 credits]

WA CLOCK HRS:  
OREGON PDUs:  
PENNSYLVANIA ACT 48:  		 50
50
50

INSTRUCTOR:

Michael Sedler
mike@communicationplus.net

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Understanding the variety of disorders and diagnoses found within the student population is very confusing. Most educators are trained to understand basic behavioral approaches, but little about “mental health” issues. Today, our schools are filled with students who show characteristics of many complex disorders and educators are asked to effectively work with these children. The Harvard Medical Center has found that between 3% and 10% of girls and boys, prior to the age of 18, exhibit serious behavioral issues that fall within the Conduct Disorder range.  Another study shows that 3% to 5% of our school age children suffer from serious behavioral/emotional disorders. This class will simplify and explain many common disorders as well as intervention approaches.
Participants will learn about a myriad of disorders, signs and recognition aspects as well as effective strategies for helping children to be successful within our school settings. Topics such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attachment Disorders, and Self Injurious Behaviors will be explored. Definitions, explanations, and educational interventions will be discussed.
This is a course designed for all educators working within the school setting, Preschool through High School.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, participants will have:

  1. The skills to identify various mental disorders and their significant characteristics.
  2. Studied key interventions that will help each child become more functional in our school setting.
  3. Developed an effective behavior plan for students.
  4. Identified resources within a community to help people in each disorder category.
  5. Developed plans for educational interventions for students.
  6. Explored ways to be a resource to parents and other educators in regards to disorder topics.
  7. Reviewed and designed their own assessment of a child case study.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Completion of all specified assignments is required for issuance of hours or credit.  The Heritage Institute does not award partial credit. 

 

HOURS EARNED:
Completing the basic assignments (Section A. Information Acquisition) for this course automatically earns participant’s their choice of CEUs (Continuing Education Units), Washington State Clock Hours, Oregon PDUs, or Pennsylvania ACT 48 Hours. The Heritage Institute offers CEUs and is an approved provider of Washington State Clock Hours, Oregon PDUs, and Pennsylvania ACT 48 Hours.

 

UNIVERSITY QUARTER CREDIT INFORMATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIVERSITY QUARTER CREDIT
Continuing Education Quarter credits are awarded by Antioch University Seattle (AUS). AUS requires 75% or better for credit at the 400 level and 85% or better to issue credit at the 500 level. These criteria refer both to the amount and quality of work submitted.

  1. Completion of Information Acquisition assignments 30%
  2. Completion of Learning Application assignments 40%
  3. Completion of Integration Paper assignment 30%

 

CREDIT/NO CREDIT (No Letter Grades or Numeric Equivalents on Transcripts)
Antioch University Seattle (AUS) Continuing Education Quarter credit is offered on a Credit/No Credit basis; neither letter grades nor numeric equivalents are on a transcript. 400 level credit is equal to a "C" or better, 500 level credit is equal to a "B" or better. This information is on the back of the transcript.

AUS Continuing Education quarter credits may or may not be accepted into degree programs. Prior to registering determine with your district personnel, department head, or state education office the acceptability of these credits for your purpose.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

REQUIRED TEXT

You may choose one from the Bibliography or select a relevant book on your own, with my prior approval.
The Bibliography is located at the end of the syllabus.
Text books may be ordered directly from the publisher (see the list/phone numbers at the back of your manual), on-line, or through bookstores.)

None. All reading is online.

MATERIALS FEE

A course manual may be downloaded, from the instructor’s website at http://www.michaelsedler.com/ without charge, once you have registered for this course. Click on classes, from there scroll down the page and click on the orange lettering ‘Manual’ next to the class “Mental Health”. It will download as a PDF. While there is no fee for the manual, you may have to pay in order to order a book from the bibliography. Or, you may borrow one from a friend or check one out at the public library for free.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHING THIS COURSE:

Mike Sedler, D.Min., M.S.W. brings over 30 years of educational experience as an administrator, social worker, behavior specialist and teacher to each of his classes.  

He provides consultation services and seminars throughout the United States and Canada for schools, agencies and businesses.  He has been teaching “adult learning classes” since the mid 1980’s and has had the privilege of working for The Heritage Institute for over 25 years. 

He has a graduate degree in Social Work, a Doctoral degree in Ministry, a Counseling license, as well as his teaching certification (K-8).  His combination of classroom experience, behavior intervention approaches, and involvement in working with hundreds of families allows for an excellent blend in all his classes.

Mike is passionate about children and emphasizes the importance of avoiding power struggles, offering options/choices to children, setting clear boundaries and guidelines as well as finding a place of positive engagement and connection with each individual.  His heart for people and emphasis on positive communication are found throughout his seminars and classes.

All of Mike’s classes are practical and “field tested” in schools and classrooms. Educators have found ongoing success in implementing Mike’s clear and concise approaches.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES & STUDENTS

Amen, Daniel. Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. Three Rivers Press, 2008. K-12.  www.randomhouse.com  800 793 2665. The breakthrough program for conquering anxiety, depression, obsessiveness, anger, and impulsiveness.
Bayat, Mojdeh.  Addressing Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Issues.  Routledge Press, 2015. P-12.  www.routledge.com  
800 634 7064. Combines research and practical approaches to student behavior.
Butler, Beverly.  The Misdiagnosed Child.  Emerald Enterprises LLC, 2013.  P-12. www.beverlybutler.com    Discusses anxiety, ADD, ADHD, and OCD diagnoses in children.
Chansky, Tamar. Freeing Your Child From Anxiety. Broadway Press, 2014. K-8. www.broadwaypress.com   800 869 6372. Solutions to overcome a childʼs fears, worries, and phobias.
Chansky, Tamar.  Freeing Your Child From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  Three Rivers Press, 2011. K-12. www.randomhouse.com  
800 793 2665. A powerful practical program for parents of children and adolescents.
Doll, Elizabeth and Cummings, Jack.  Transforming School Mental Health Services. Corwin Press, 2007. K-12.  www.corwinpress.com  
800 233 9936. Provides a comprehensive ten-step approach to wellness and academic success.
Ford, Julian.  Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents.  The Guilford  Press. 2013. P-12.  www.guilford.com   800 365 7006. Understanding the impact of ptsd on children and interventions for them.
Green, Ross.  The Explosive Child.  Harper Paperbacks, 2014. K- 6. www.harpercollins.com  A new approach for understanding and parenting easily frustrated, chronically inflexible children.
Parkin, Andrew and Dogra, Nisha. A Multidisciplinary Handbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health for Front-Line Professionals.  Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2009.  K-12.  www.jkp.com   866 416 1078.  An introduction to mental health covering the nature, prevalence, treatment, and management of mental health problems.
Silva, Raul. Post traumatic Stress Disorders in Children and Adolescents Handbook. W.W. Norton, 2004. K-12.  www.wwnorton.com  
800 233 4830. Practical strategies for helping children and adolescents with PTSD.
Sink, Christopher.  Mental Health Interventions for School Counselors.  Wadsworth Publishing, 2010.  P-12.  www.cengage.com  617 289 7700.  
A collaborative book with suggestions on “how to” from some of the leading counselor educators.
Sklare, Gerald (Bennett).  Brief Counseling That Works.  Corwin Press, 2014.  P-12.  www.corwinpress.com   800-233-9936. Effective approaches to counseling youth in schools.
Thomas, Nancy. When Love Is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting Children with RAD (reactive attachment disorder). Families by Design, 2008.
K- 8. www.helponechild.org   970 984 2222. A strong book discussing ways to work with attachment disorders in children.
Wagner, Aureen Pinto. What to do when your Child has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Lighthouse Press, 2002. K-12 
 www.lighthouse-press.com   888 749 8768.  A book that focuses on strategies and solutions for this difficult disorder.
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES & STUDENTS REV 2/27/24