It can be very difficult to care for a child with conduct disorder and get him or her the services that they need. If your child has conduct disorder, you may need someone to step in and help.
If your child has a mental health issue in addition to conduct disorder, you may want to file a voluntary petition. This petition is a request for services that your insurance may not pay for. If approved, the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) would step in and pay for these services. These services include residential facilities or special schools for your child.
If your child has conduct disorder without another co-existing mental illness and you are having trouble managing them, you may want to file a wayward petition. This petition is a request for the judicial system to take over the care of your child. This is often a “last resort” for parents. Your child will get the services they need, but you will have to hand over the care of your child to the courts.
