In short, kids who have mental health problems struggle in school because of their mental health problems. That’s why we’ve initiated positive, school-based programs that involve full-time counselors in your children’s school building for the duration of the school day.
There, we help increase your child’s self-esteem and work through whatever issues or concerns they have in a way that enables them to function better in school. We believe positive, school-based intervention improves self-esteem and leads to better performance socially and academically.
School-based services provide behavioral intervention and mental health, which are delivered in the school on an “as needed” basis in both Trumbull and Mahoning counties. These programs include, but are not limited to:
Our format and structure is set around Nicholas Hobbs’ 12 Principles of Re-education. He believes between a child and adult there has to be trust. Emotions should be expressed. Kids can be taught to learn. Every kid should know a little joy in their life. Ceremony is important. Group is important. We’ve incorporated these philosophies into our program in such a way that allows kids to feel good about being in our program rather than feeling shame or discomfort about seeing a counselor.
Children are referred by teachers or their own parents and caregivers, and can have diagnoses ranging from ADHD to ODD, bipolar, depression, adjustment disorders and others.
We do positive calls home. “Today Johnny did a really good job in math. He was actually able to help someone else.” We help parents see the good because more times than not when they get called by the school it’s for a negative reason. We feel it’s important to try and balance that equation.
We do a lot of positive reinforcement with students. We’re there when they need us and not when they don’t. For a child whose difficult time is math class we’ll sit with them during math; and only during math. For a child who tends to get in trouble on the playground we’ll be nearby when he’s on the playground.
They may not remember what you said but they’ll always remember how you made them feel. And that’ll make all the difference in the end.
We offer character building and respite services throughout the year during quarterly family nights and annual summer camps. Here, we get together socially as a group with kids and their families and have a positive, fun night out.
In the summers, we build up social skills through mind, body and character exercises and activities.
We emphasize the true mark of a man is not what he does when he messes up, but what he does afterward. Our camps are about building character.
Tomorrow will be better, although you might not be able to see that right now. But let’s figure out a way to get there faster.
At camp, we show kids we trust them by giving them chances they might not have had. Sometimes when we get to a certain point nobody wants to give a child any more chances, so the behavior just keeps getting worse. Instead, we should give them opportunities to show they can be responsible, even in small ways. Let’s set them up for success. When we stop giving them responsibilities, we’re asking them to be irresponsible.
