Friday, July 25, 2003
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Friday, July 25, 2003 |
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Children's behavior problems resolved through activities, therapy at Pathways It's summer, but an after-school program by Pathways Center for Behavioral and Developmental Growth is still in full swing. During the school year, Pathways offers two after-school behavioral modification programs Beginnings and Insights for children with behavioral or emotional problems. Children are referred to these programs by school counselors, the Department of Family and Children Services, parents and sometimes the courts. Pathways Center is a human services agency providing services annually to some 6,000 persons with mental health issues, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases in Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties. In the summer months, the program expands to three to five hours daily with extensive treatment and counseling. Pathways' goal is to help increase the overall level of functioning of these youth by teaching various skill levels to manage anger and impulses,involve parents with the process and ultimately integrate children in mainstream activities at school and other social settings, said Joan Turner, executive director of Pathways. In Newnan, some 22 young people attend the Pathways Center at 12 Savannah St. for the daily program. Children enter the first step of the program, called Beginnings, using activity therapy modalities that focus on anger management, hygiene, social skills and dealing with their parents. Beginnings teaches skills that will get them into Insights, said Greg Robinson, social service day coordinator in Newnan. They are learning through different activities such as horticulture, art therapy and music therapies. "In Beginnings, Robinson said, We have to start like a parent does, teaching basic social skills. It is hands on treatment," he said. "You've got to show them how to do things, not just say it." "When a child is referred into the program, Robinson said, their normal pattern may be total disruption. Then we try to change it. We have to identify what isnt right and replace it with what is right." Friday is usually a big day, Robinson said. "Recently we staged a malt shop, pizza shop, and the mall. Children also go fishing at Newnan Lake or in the Chattahoochee River on the edge of town." "We stage it first so we can make sure their behavior is right," Robinson said. "We want them to do good so we practice the behaviors. We do a number of tests and exercises here before they go out in public." When children move into day support the Insights program the treatment takes on a different feel. The children are more able to sit, listen and talk over their feelings. "We do treatment, but we realize that they're still kids," Robinson said. "We work on solving problems by talking through them." Pathways uses a token system, a reward system to earn tokens for positive behavior. Children get to spend it on a movie day or pizza party or snacks. When they go back to school they have goals, Robinson said. "We make sure they are on target." "In life you have to earn what you get," Robinson said. "But treatment comes first in this program. After treatment then we go to places like that." After six to eight weeks in Beginnings, and another six months to a year in the Insights program, children graduate to outpatient services where their performance is individually monitored by Pathways staff. The summer program provides two meals a day, breakfast and lunch, and participants often visit cultural and recreational areas in the community. For more information on these and other Pathways Center Services, contact Karen King at 770-254-7230.
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