1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Adaptive Functioning Deficits in Clinical and Forensic Settings is presented by Jerrod Brown, Ph.D. 

Adaptive functioning can be defined as an individual’s capacity to navigate the typical practical (e.g., daily living skills, organization, time management), social (e.g., social responsibility, problem-solving, interpersonal communication), and conceptual (e.g., reasoning, judgment, self-direction) demands of everyday life at a normative level. 

Deficits in adaptive functioning can make it very difficult for an individual to successfully fulfill personal responsibilities and cope with challenges as they arise. In particular, adaptive functioning deficits can present a number of problems in clinical, forensic, and legal settings from the point of arrest and trial to incarceration and community supervision (i.e., probation and parole). For instance, suspects and defendants with adaptive functioning deficits may struggle (a) in comprehending their legal rights and (b) when questioned in police interviews and trial settings. 

Within mental health treatment settings, adaptive functioning deficits may lead to poor treatment outcomes when such issues have not been properly identified, managed, and supported. In light of these issues, there is a strong need for advanced training on adaptive functioning deficits among clinical, forensic, and legal professionals. This program is designed to increase awareness of adaptive functioning deficits among professionals working in clinical, forensic, and legal settings.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe a working knowledge of adaptive functioning and its etiological origins
  • 2 Describe screening and assessment options for adaptive functioning
  • 3
    Describe intervention, treatment, and case management options for individuals with adaptive functioning deficits who are involved in the criminal justice and mental health systems
  • 4 Describe the consequences of adaptive functioning deficits in clinical, forensic, and legal settings
  • 5 Describe the current state of research literature and identify future directions

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and legal professionals who work at the intersection of clinical practice and the justice system. It is relevant for individuals at all stages of their careers—whether you are just starting out or are an experienced clinician or forensic specialist. The program focuses on understanding how adaptive dysfunction can impact both clinical and forensic settings, providing practical knowledge for those working in a range of environments, including forensic, criminal justice, health care, social service, and educational contexts.

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals.

  • Practice Setting

    • Clinical psychologists

    • Forensic psychologists

    • Mental health professionals (e.g., counselors, social workers, therapists)

    • Legal professionals (e.g., attorneys, judges, legal advocates)

    • Professionals working in:
        • - Forensic settings
        - Criminal justice agencies
        - Clinical treatment centers
        - Hospitals and health care facilities
        - Community-based programs
        - Social service organizations
        - Educational institutions

Presented By

Jerrod Brown, PhD

Jerrod Brown, PhD, is the Treatment Director for Pathways Counseling Center, Inc., the lead developer of an online Master of Arts degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Forensic Behavioral Health from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS), and the Editor-in-Chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST) and the Journal of Special Populations (JSP).

View More Programs from this Presenter
Jerrod Brown, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Understanding of adaptive dysfunction

  • Discuss problems related to behavior

  • Discuss treatment outcomes

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.