ABSTRACT
One important role of a psychiatrist is to provide an evaluation of a specific student. The evaluation will address specific questions such as diagnostic clarification, provide an identification of an emotional disability, or make treatment recommendations. This type of evaluation is similar to an independent psychiatric evaluation that can be pursued by the family. Parents may be willing to allow a psychiatrist to sit in on a given class to observe their child. In addition, school districts are beginning to work with psychiatrists in collaborative ways. However, when it is requested by a school district, educational team members should participate along with the student and family members. Finally, psychiatrists are working with school districts to create therapeutic educational settings for severely impaired emotionally disturbed students. Along with helping to design the program, the psychiatrist can maintain an ongoing collaborative treatment role in this type of setting. Psychiatrists are also able to provide this service within an educational setting.
