Parent to Parent of Georgia Kids in Crisis Kids in Crisis is a service offered by Parent to Parent of Georgia (P2P). It is designed for students with disabilities who are involved in the school discipline process. Because of their disabilities, there are protections built into the law beyond what is in the Student Code of Conduct. Kids in Crisis helps ensure that students with disabilities are not unfairly removed from their educational placement to a more restrictive setting for behavior that may have been the result of their disability. What is the rationale for Kids in Crisis? According to IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), school systems must convene a Manifestation Determination meeting within 10 days from violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The purpose of this school-based meeting is to determine if the behavior was a result of the disability. Parents and students are unprepared to manage such a crisis alone. They oftentimes go into these meetings with limited understanding about the process and possible negative outcomes. Without a sound understanding of the school discipline process, parents may be unaware of the role they can play in redirecting the conversation away from a move to a more restrictive educational placement toward a review of the services and interventions in place. What will Parent to Parent do through Kids in Crisis? Through Kids in Crisis, Parent to Parent staff provides intensive, immediate assistance to families to ensure that the child's and parent’s rights are protected. Our goal is to ensure that the student with disabilities receives an education in the least restrictive environment that has appropriate supports and interventions in place. Upon receipt of a referral, P2P assembles a Kids in Crisis team. This team includes the parent/guardian, the student with disabilities, volunteer(s) who are knowledgeable about special education, the school discipline process and behavior, and P2P staff. The P2P staff will review all available records and work with the team to develop a strategy/plan for use at the Manifestation Determination meeting. Who is Eligible for Assistance by Kids in Crisis? Parents/guardians of students with disabilities who are subject to the school discipline process as a result of an alleged or confirmed violation of the Student Code of Conduct can be assisted by Parent to Parent of Georgia and the Kids in Crisis project. A family or parent can call P2P directly to request assistance or families may be referred to P2P by a community partner or other professional. By reacting quickly prior to a manifestation determination hearing or other school-based meeting following a disciplinary incident, parents/families have a greater chance of keeping their child in his or her current educational placement instead of being removed to a more restrictive environment. Parent to Parent of Georgia Services Database of Resources Roadmap to Services Supporting Parents One-on-One Assistance Navigator Project Free Trainings Online Opportunities Parent to Parent of Georgia 3805 Presidential Parkway Suite 207 Atlanta, Georgia 30340 1-800-229-2038 FAX: 770-458-4091 www.p2pga.org