Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on a question for a detailed answer
I am a parent
We would be honored to have a conversation with you about the services you might be requesting, however, it is ultimately the district’s choice on who provides school-based services to your child/adolescent. We greatly respect each school district’s choice and will only provide services if a school district has requested them.
MLC has recently developed MLC Academy, which provides a variety of family services. See our Family Services page for more information. Additionally, MLC experts are able to offer other learning opportunities such as virtual workshops and trainings.
MLC services and assessments are not diagnostic. Any individual assessments completed by MLC are intended to be used during multidisciplinary evaluation team meetings at the school to determine eligibility for Special Education and potential related services. Additionally, individualized assessments are written to be discussed with parents and school team members to assist in creating detailed Individualized Education Plans and any corresponding necessary behavioral plans.
The education system can be very confusing and daunting if you are not in the field. You may feel you need help, but not sure who to ask or where to turn. First, know you are not alone, and it takes courage and strength to look for help. MLC believes that families are an essential part of a student’s educational career and should be involved in every step of the process. MLC encourages you to reach out to your local school district to start the process of asking for guidance. If you are looking for peer tutoring to help strengthen or enrich your child’s skills, please visit the Family Services page.
MLC is honored to be considered for a community presentation. We recognize how important and rare these opportunities for parent and community engagement are. It would be an honor to discuss with a parent-teacher group what content would best fit the needs and expectations of families, communities, and districts. MLC believes the key to successful presentations are engagement and a takeaway. Your group can expect to observe an interactive presentation with actual materials for attendees to take home. An example would be a “Take Back My Calm” workshop. This is a parent and student-attended event where students and parents identify coping mechanisms and create calming toolboxes to take home. We have also provided these workshops for teachers to assist with teaching behavioral management in the classroom.
I am a school district
MLC provides specialized services that require extensive cross-training. It can be difficult to find, hire, and retain internal staff with the necessary level of expertise to provide services for the most intensive needs students.
Not necessarily. Contracted services allow a district to only pay for services it needs. The goal of MLC is to provide sustainable programming and/or interventions that don’t require continual ongoing consultation. In addition, hiring contracted staff provides you with access to experts without the need for additional expenses such as providing benefits and retirement.
There are many answers to this question. We will highlight just a few. First, a needs assessment would need to indicate a district has a great enough need for an in-district specialized program. If this is found to be the case, in-district specialized programming can cost a district far less than sending students to private out-of-district placements. Additionally, having expert staff in the building allows for a faster and more economical way to meet unexpected student needs. Quicker expert intervention and lower cost benefit both students and districts. Finally, locating out-of-district placements can be extremely challenging. There are limited resources resulting in waitlists and the possibility that students would need to travel far distances to receive the interventions they need. Students receiving specialized programming in their local school system allows them to continue building peer relationships, become an active member in their home community, and provide easier access for parents to participate in programming.
Not necessarily. At some point, there may be a student with such a significant need they require a more restrictive environment than a public school could ever offer. This student may be in crisis and require highly intensive clinical services offered at hospital-based settings and some residential settings. The good news is, if that student’s needs change and he/she does not require such a restrictive setting, your district will have the resources to begin transitioning that student back into an in-district specialized program.
There is no one answer to this question. Each student is different and unique. A student should receive the services and supports he/she is eligible for and need. Often students in specialized programs will learn various skills and tools decreasing their need to access specialized programs as they get older. Some students, while learning these skills and tools, will still require significant alternative programming throughout their years in the school district.
Research has shown over and over that teaching early healthy lifestyle habits and providing prevention initiatives are both successful and economically advantageous. In this ever-evolving world, it is now more important than ever that students learn skills early on to help them navigate and manage their choices and responses. It is a common oversight to not engage parents in learning and teaching new skills. The success of learning new skills in the areas of managing emotions, using moderation, and keeping a healthy balanced lifestyle is not done in isolation. Parents serve as excellent models to reinforce concepts that have been presented in school settings.
Currently, MLC provides direct on site student services only in the state of New Hampshire. In regard to consultation or professional development services, we are honored to find out more about your out-of-state district needs to determine if we are the right fit. While some of the work can be completed remotely, travel fees may be needed to provide more in-depth consultation or professional development services.
The short answer is yes. Our experts are trained and have experience in the development and implementation of protocols related to crisis responses for students, staff, and families. Services are not limited to immediate crisis responses, but also include designing district-wide protocols and professional development to assist with any future events should they occur.