Special Education and the New Mental Health: A Response to New Direction of CCBD?

■ The emphasis or focus of a professional association often shifts imperceptibly over time in ways that neither its membership nor its leadership seems able to recognize until pivotal events compel it to do so. The historical shift from psychodynamic to behavioral approaches in special education for children with emotional or behavioral disorders began just about a half century ago and largely coincided with the formation of its primary professional association, the Council for Children with Behavioral Disor ders (CCBD), a subdivision of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). That CCBD's 50th Anniversary also seems to coincide with the fact that its recent loss of membership has now slipped to a level below 50% is unfortunate. The coincidence of these two pivotal events, however, is fortuitous. CCBD leader