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Network for Students with Emotional Disabilities (SEDNET)

Since its inception in 1984, the Multiagency Network for Students with Emotional Disabilities (SEDNET) has been devoted to facilitating the creation of a comprehensive "system of care" for high-risk students and students with emotional disabilities and their families.

Initially, the focus of SEDNET was to assist in bringing students from out-of-state residential placements back to Florida. Having accomplished that, SEDNET evolved into assisting in the transitioning of residentially placed students back into the home and community.

Now, SEDNET is focused on enhancing the system of care for families and children in their natural environments whenever possible. To do so, SEDNET takes a systemic approach, addressing the system of care through the following initiatives:

  1. Direct Services–during 2003-04, SEDNET enacted 310 direct service initiatives affecting 125,132 children and families across virtually every agency and community setting.
  2. Grants and Funding–during 2003-2004, SEDNET leveraged their $3,223,994 into more than $29,000,000 that supported services for children with severe emotional disabilities and their families.
  3. Interagency Collaboration and Linkages–during 2003-04, SEDNET was involved in more than 791 collaborative partnerships including virtually all state, local, and relevant community providers, resulting in resource enhancement, information sharing, more efficient use of resources, and improved service access.
  4. Policies and Agreements–during 2003-04, SEDNET was involved with the development of 196 policies and agreements resulting in reallocation of funding, new service partnerships, service integration, and service efficiency.
  5. Staff Development–during 2003-04, SEDNET was involved in 355 training services designed to increase the knowledge, skills, and abilities of administrators, teachers, care providers, families, and students.

SEDNET continues to create and facilitate a network of key stakeholders committed to the provision of a quality system of care for students with emotional disabilities and their families. SEDNET accomplishes this through facilitation, collaboration, and direct intervention, as well as research and development. SEDNET has evolved over time to meet the needs of students with emotional disabilities, and it will continue to be a resource and a viable mechanism for addressing the new challenges facing this unique population.

Beginning in 2005-2006, all SEDNET activities and projects will be devoted to assisting in the transformation of the education and mental health systems into an integrated system that focuses on recovery, resiliency, and family empowerment. This integrated system will include securing direct service projects, grants and other funding, interagency agreements and other collaboration, and staff development.

For more information regarding SEDNET, contact:
Martha Murray, Program Specialist
Florida Department of Education
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services
850-245-0478