Special classroom placements for EMR children: guidelines for community mental health personnel

Community mental health personnel have become increasingly involved in public school interventions for mildly retarded children. Previous research, legal findings, and ethical principles regarding the most common intervention, special class placement, are reviewed. Advantages and disadvantages of special placement are presented. Finally, a process model is proposed as offering guidelines to the mental health professional who is involved in establishing treatment programs for EMR children in the public school.