HOPE: Helping Scholars Transition Back to School
It’s no surprise that many parents and children felt anxious about returning to school in the fall. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant additional stress, fear, and worry for many families. The start of a new school year can mean going back to school after a long break, or for our youngest scholars, attending school for the first time. Lincoln Families understands that youth with mental health challenges can experience difficulty transitioning back to school, relating to peers, and managing relationships at school, issues exacerbated by pandemic-related stress. Our Helping Open Pathways to Education (HOPE) program provides integrated behavioral supports for students, families, and schools to develop tools and learning environments for academic success during this challenging time. Learn about how HOPE is helping students, families, and schools make a successful transition to in-person learning:
Working collaboratively with parents. Our staff empowers families to share their stories, communicate their needs, and work together to find effective and appropriate treatment strategies. They convey genuine interest in working with the parent/caregivers as a partner in helping assist the child to reach their treatment goals. We believe that healthy relationships are primary and that no intervention is effective without connection and attunement.
2. Promoting a positive learning environment. HOPE staff participates fully in prevention/promotion activities to promote positive campus climate, culture and behavioral health for the entire school community. Such efforts may include Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports planning teams, stressbusters, and other efforts to promote positive campus culture and student resiliency.
3. Developing an individualized plan. Our staff develops individualized plans for scholars driven by their unique needs and input from their family and school staff. Through working with HOPE, scholars learn to use coping techniques to effectively manage their anxiety as well as new social skills to begin building relationships at school. We strive to increase attendance, confidence, and provide scholars with strong supports for the future.
Lincoln Families has more than a decade of proven experience developing strong partnerships with schools, students, and families, and providing culturally relevant supports. By bringing services to schools, where children and youth spend a majority of their day, we strive to create an environment where students look forward to learning and can adapt to new challenges in an on-going COVID landscape.