ETHICS: Use of Restraint and Seclusion for Counselors

This course counts as 7 continuing education hours.

Do you work in a school?  Have physical restraints or seclusion ever been used at your place of work?  The U.S. federal government is considering proposed laws to govern the use of restraint and seclusion at school.  This is largely due to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) May 2009 report of injury, death, and abuse of children with disabilities due to restraint and seclusion. In this course, you can expect to learn about the recent U.S. Department of Education initiatives to develop common standards for the use of restraint and seclusion. All principles defined by the U.S. Department of Education’s May 2012 report are reviewed and include interpretations for counselors working with children in schools. Recent state and federal policy are also reviewed.  This training is recommended for anyone who works with school-aged children or clients who engage in behavioral escalations.

Course Activities:
Lessons 1-5 with Practice Quizzes, which includes three course readings and course text on applications specific to counselors
Course Reading 1:  Office of Civil Rights Restraint and Seclusion Database
Course Reading 2:  U.S. Department of Education’s Restraint and Seclusion Resource Document (May 2012)
Course Reading 3:  Summary of Seclusion and Restraint Statutes, Regulations, Policies and Guidance, by State and Territory

Educational Objectives:
Participants will correctly identify and apply the Department of Education’s definitions of restraint and seclusion
Participants will demonstrate application of the May 2012 publication, Restraint and Seclusion Resource Document
Participants will demonstrate knowledge of how counselors can contribute to Department of Education best practices

Target Audience: Certified counselors who work in schools or at a facility that uses restraints or seclusion

Format: Online self-study

Instructor: Valerie Evans, Ph.D.

General Statement Access CEU has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6689. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Access CEU is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

This accessCEU course is based on primary documentation from the United States Department of Education (ED) and was neither developed nor endorsed by ED.


Course Instructions: Read the material in Lesson 1 and take the practice quiz at the bottom of the page. After you have answered the two practice questions, move on to the next lesson. When the content is complete, take the final quiz until an 70% correct is achieved. Your certificate of course completion will be generated automatically.

E-learning education or internet library. Conceptual image

Look for the laptop with books displayed for course readings and resources. A button will be displayed with a link to more reading. All readings are from .gov sources and pertain to the use of restraint and seclusion.

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