What Do We Do?

There are a variety of supports and services that the Mental Health Team offers at Alcott School.  Please see below for examples and descriptions.

Direct Classroom Support

MHT members provide support within the classroom setting in order to address skill deficits during "teachable moments."  This support helps students generalize skills they are learning/have learned in the most naturalistic setting.

Peace Table

The Peace Table is an opportunity for students to utilize problem-solving skills with peers in a safe, supervised setting.  Our goal is to support students in solving problems independently. Students access the Peace Table by asking their teacher if they can make an appointment for a Peace Table.  The Peace Table can be used in several different ways.  A student may choose to go to the peace table on his/her own, simply to discuss a problem on one's own in order to strategize how to approach this problem.  A student also may invite peers to the Peace Table if there is a/are specific peer(s) with whom that student has a conflict.  In this situation, we then engage in a conflict resolution process in which each student is encouraged to share his/her perspective of the conflict, each student or I reiterate what has been stated by each person, and then we generate a plan.  Students then are responsible for putting this plan into action.  If concerns persist, students are encouraged to reconvene at the Peace Table.  If students come to the Peace Table on more than 2 occasions for the same (persistent) issue or if the severity of the conflict (i.e., bullying, aggressive behavior, etc.) warrants immediate contact, Brigette/Sharon/Sherree notify caregivers.  Most often, conflicts are resolved, and students feel proud that they were able to successfully resolve an issue in an appropriate, respectful, and mature/independent way. 

Friendship Groups

In an effort to help students to get to know each other better across the grade level, we facilitate Friendship Groups, in which as many students as possible have a chance to take part during the school year.  Additionally, these groups are intended to help students further develop cooperative skills, to appreciate and respect differences amongst each other, to enhance connections within the classroom and across the grade level, and to develop problem-solving skills.  Because all students can benefit from further development of these skills, our hope is that this proactive approach will allow students the opportunity to practice these fundamental skills in a small group setting with students they trust.  By enhancing these skills and fostering connections among students, these Friendship Groups have the added benefit of creating a classroom climate in which students feel a sense of belonging and a part of a team.  

Friendship Groups meet once per week in either Brigette's or Sherree's office during lunch for 20 minutes.  Students still go out for their lunch-recess if they participate.  Groups last for approximately 4 weeks.  Weekly themes include, but are not limited to, the following: joining a group, learning about others, cooperation, identifying and managing problems, celebrating individuality, conflict resolution, relaxation strategies, developing self-competence, turn-taking, and respect/kindness.

Behavior Plans

Behavior plans are tools used within the classroom in order to help a child learn to change her or his behavior. The goal is to help the child learn replacement behaviors.  These plans are individually tailored to meet a specific student's needs.  MHT members consult with teachers to provide behavior plan tools, to determine effective progress, and to determine how to make changes to a plan in order to continue to shape behavior toward pre-determined goals.   In addition to the plan itself, other components to implementing an effective behavior plan include changing the environment when appropriate and possible, recognizing and modifying behavioral triggers, and teaching alternative skills and consequence strategies.

Social, emotional, and Behavioral Assessment

Social, emotional, and behavioral assessments often involve observations, home and school rating scales, self-report measures, interviews, and examination of data that has been collected for behavior or self-monitoring plans.  Evaluations are conducted only after parent permission is received. 

Crisis Intervention

Crisis Intervention at Alcott essentially means meeting students' and staff needs spur of the moment in order to relieve some kind of stressor or to provide support.  There is a broad spectrum in terms of what crisis intervention might look like ranging from the death of a student's pet to a traumatic event within the school building or community.  Regardless of the size of the concern, the MHT is available to support staff, students, and caregivers during these difficult times.

Counseling

Counseling can be provided both individually and within a group setting.  Students meet with Brigette or Sherree in their offices at a pre-determined time on what is typically a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.