The Miami-Dade/Monroe Multiagency Network for Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities (SEDNET) is a regional interagency networking project, which has been established to improve the range and quality of programs for students identified with emotional/behavioral disabilities (E/BD) in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. SEDNET was created by the 1981 Legislature through the enactment of Section 230.23017, Florida Statutes. The Miami-Dade/Monroe SEDNET was established in 1983. The project is primarily funded through a grant awarded by the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services. The project has three (3) specific components, which together comprise the methodology to meet mandated goals.

The first component is a regional case management system which is used to coordinate students’ educational programs with the delivery of community agency services. Project staff works collaboratively with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and other agency case managers to facilitate an appropriate school placement or to assist the student in obtaining other services in the community. The Multiagency Network project is the central liaison in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for psychiatric hospitals and residential programs when a student may need a special education placement upon discharge.

The second component is a computerized information system that has been implemented to track case management referrals to the project and to maintain basic information on community agencies which serve this population. The system has been designed not only to assist in case management, but also to provide a database for program planning endeavors.

The third component is to serve as a coordinating link for the Miami-Dade/Monroe County Schools, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Juvenile Justice, Community Mental Health Agencies and parents and family members to plan and implement service to E/BD youth and children at risk.

The overall mission of the project is to improve the provision and coordination of education, mental health treatment, and residential services for students identified with emotional/behavioral disabilities in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. This project is mandated to meet the four goals which have been established for all currently funded SEDNET projects in the state.

These are to:

• monitor and promote a comprehensive system which includes: education, mental health treatment, and residential services for students identified with emotional/behavioral  disabilities;
• increase the effectiveness of existing education, mental health treatment, and residential services for students identified as emotional/behavioral disabled;
• maintain the system for continuous multiagency planning, implementation, and evaluation of education, mental health treatment, and residential services for students identified as emotional/behavioral disabled; and
• share information, materials, and resources for services for students identified with emotional/behavioral  disabilities.