School-Based Services in Wisconsin: Educational Frameworks, Trauma-Informed Care, and Medicaid Expansion
This course explores the evolving role of school-based services in supporting students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), self-regulation challenges, and participation needs within the educational setting. The session will review IDEA, ESSA, IEPs, and Section 504 while examining how physical therapists can support students in schools through trauma-informed care, using both broad strategies for all students and targeted support for those with greater needs. Participants will review the role of Medicaid in school-based practice, including Wisconsin's recent expansion and the potential implications for future service delivery within schools. The course will also introduce current literature related to trauma-informed care, the impact of trauma on self-regulation, and the evidence surrounding sensory integration approaches as they relate to behavior, regulation, and student participation. Emphasis will be placed on helping physical therapists better understand how educational, behavioral, and health-related frameworks intersect in the school setting, and how PTs can support students through both direct and expanded models of care.