Just like many other children in Western New York, the kids at Child & Family Services’ Residential Treatment recently started their school year with remote learning.
“The entire [Residential] team has really come together during this trying time,” said Dana Szalay, Director of Residential Treatment. “We’re a treatment program focused on trauma, building coping skills, and teaching typical day-to-day activities. Our teams have gone above and beyond to ensure that we are teaching and providing the tools for the children to receive the best education possible.
All the children now have headphones and private workspaces so they can learn without distraction. Beyond the typical schoolwork, there are other aspects of in-person schooling the team needed to consider. “A lot of our kids have IEPs (Individualized Education Programs); so not only is it the classroom learning, but also the counseling, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and anything else that might be integrated into these plans at their schools,” said Heather Gennuso, Residential Clinical Manager. “We needed to make sure all of these services would be available through Telehealth.”
With all of this in mind, how has the Residential team been able to keep the students on track? One of the most important things they have done is to keep to a normalized routine that mirrors actually going to school. In the morning, the kids put uniforms on and get ready as if it is a regular school day. Their backpacks are filled with books and school supplies. Heather said, “Having this structure helps the kids get into a school-oriented frame of mind. When they are at their limit, we provide breaks so they can get outside to get some fresh air and break up the screen time. Those are definitely helpful.”
When asked what has made the transition to remote learning successful, Heather praised her staff’s efforts. “It definitely makes it easier when you have all hands on deck and everyone is helping out.”