Is 6 weeks enough to make a difference?

At my current fieldwork sight, we are working with a group of children, that are, as I said before, in a bit of a difficult circumstance right now. Because of the privacy that is required at this location, we are not allowed to look at our client's charts. So, we do not know much of their background, mental, physical, medical, or otherwise. I have discovered this can be a hinderance in the planning of a group, but can understand that these children do not need to be labeled by yet another person.

My question is, when a child has ADD, ADHD, or any learning disorders should the staff that are working with that child be notified so they can make the proper changes to their plan. Possibly give more one on one, and be ready to interveine if needed with any child. Teachers have to write specialized lesson plans, IEP (Individual education plan). If they would just let me know if there is a deficit of any kind, I could be more prepared to get these kids involved more, and work at their own level.

Adults are affected by everything in their environment. Children even more so. So, if they are living in a stressful environment, somewhere different from their norm, that can lead to behavioral "problems." I put behavior in quotations because not every behavior is a problem. Some children have very good coping mechanisms in place, that they have either been taught, or have learned by themselves. But for these kids, that have been uprooted and do not fully understand the situation their family has been put in, it is devistatingly obvious that they do not have these coping mechanisms, or if they do have one, it is one that is not looked on as "good" by society. Such coping could be hitting a wall, throwing a ball against a wall after you have been asked to stop, hiding underneath a table, and not interacting with others. These are some of the behaviors that I have been witness to. But, getting the child involved, and giving them one on one time can put a smile on their face. We have to be a role model for these kids, they might not have been taught how to interact with others, or are still too young and are just learning social interaction.

Having said that, do these kids need special attention because of the environment they are brought up in, or because of a disorder, such as ADD. And is the environment affecting these disordered thought patterns. Research says yes. Please look at the link I have attached. I found it to be very informative.

Facts on Trauma and Homeless Children.