School-Based Care for Youth with Disabilities: Essentials for Collaboration Between Physicians and Educators

Abstract

With increasing prevalence of behavioral and mental health concerns, the need for equitable and accessible care is paramount. School providers and primary care physicians (PCPs) can collaborate to provide a full continuum of services, enhancing the overall likelihood of success for school-aged youth with mental health and developmental disorders. To facilitate meaningful collaboration, PCPs should have a general understanding of special education and disability law surrounding determination procedures of a student with a disability. In addition to pharmacologic treatment, PCPs should support evidence-based psychosocial interventions that can be implemented in an educational context.

Keywords: Collaboration; Disabilities; Individualized education program; Interagency; Interprofessional; Section 504; Special education.