KIDS' DISORDERS TOPIC OF MEETING AT OLMSTED, ILL.

OLMSTED, Ill. -- More than 200 people concerned about children with behavior disorders will attend a conference Aug. 13 at Shawnee Community College.

The conference is sponsored by "Project Deflection," a six-county partnership between public and private agencies. Teachers, school administrators, parents, social workers, psychologists, community agency staff, volunteers and community leaders have been invited.

Children with behavior disorders or at risk of being separated from their regular classrooms in Alexander, Pulaski, Johnson, Pope and Hardin counties will be discussed.

Barry Ancell, coordinator of Project Deflection, said the conference is geared to provide training to those present and to publicize this new experiment in avoiding the segregation of children because of behavior disorders.

"This is the first time in far Southern Illinois that we have provided a network of public school, state agency and private mental health services with the expressed purpose of helping these children," said Ancell. "Our goal is to prevent unnecessary institutionalization when the child can be served in their home schools."

Project Deflection is one of six statewide, selected and funded by the Illinois State Board of Education on a three-year pilot basis. If the programs prove successful in keeping children with behavior disorders from being placed in segregated settings, the state board will seek federal and other funding to replicate the approach statewide.

Mary Jayne Broncato, associate superintendent of the state board, will present the board's statewide plan at the conference. Nicholas Long, an expert on children with behavior disorders, will be keynote speaker. Long is a professor of special education at The American University, Washington D.C.

All interested persons may attend the conference at no charge; however, pre-registration is required. The conference begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. For information call 618-742-6291.