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Overview of Wellness and Mental Health Services
Contact info for Mr. Paul Dischiavo, LMSW, school social worker:
Phone: (315) 839-6355
E-mail: PDischiavo@SVCSD.org
Services Provided by Mr. Dischiavo:
Individual Counseling:
- Deal with school-related concerns such as a lack of self-control, managing frustrations, increasing focus, and changing negative behavior.
- Teach children specific coping skills to manage their behaviors.
Group Counseling:
- Provided as needed. Examples include social skills, anger management, and positive choices groups.
Consutlation:- To assist parents, caregivers, or staff to manage concerning behaviors or emotional difficulties.
Mediation/Conflict Resolution:- Teach children skills to communicate effectively and respectfully in order to solve their own problems.
- The children are guided through a specific process (ex: calm down;.define the issue; establish common ground rules; brainstorm solutions) and eventually come to a mutually acceptable resolution.
Referrals:
- Given for children and families for outside mental health, social service, or welfare agencies and programs as needed.
SPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACEBully Proofing Your School:- A comprehensive program for handling bully/victim problems
- Works to create a "caring majority" of students who take the lead in establishing and maintaining a safe and caring school community.
- Focuses on converting the silent majority of students into a caring majority by teaching strategies that help them to avoid victimization and to take a stand for a bully free school.
- In schools which have implemented the program, incidences of bullying have declined and feelings of safety among the students have increased.
Other Services:SPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACEPrimary ProjectMr. Dischiavo and Mrs. Keida- For children who may be having school adjustment challenges in Kindergarten through 2nd grade
- The social/emotional component of Sauquoit Elementary's RTI effort.
- Meant to detect difficulties adjusting to school early, to help children develop a school-based, trusting relationship with an adult and reduce social, emotional and school adjustment difficulties early
1-2-3 MagicMrs. McKeon-Pauley or Mr. Dischiavo- A 2-Part discipline program used by many of our teachers and even more of our parents.
- We offer a two-part showing of the 1-2-3 Magic DVD’s along with Q & A sessions to address specific concerns that parents have.
- Typically offered several times throughout the year-sometimes during the day and some evenings
- "Parents are taught how to manage the 'Six Kinds of Testing and Manipulation', how to handle misbehavior in public, and how to avoid the 'Talk-Persuade-Argue-Yell-Hit Syndrome'”
- The program teaches how to:
- Control Obnoxious Behavior: Learn a simple technique to get your kids to STOP doing what you don't want them to do (whining, arguing, tantrums, sibling rivalry, etc.). And here we add text to push the words down another line. And here we also add text.
- Encourage Good Behavior: Learn several effective methods to get your kids to START doing what you want tem to do (cleaning rooms, going to bed, homework, etc.). And here we add text to push the words down another line. And here we also add text.
- Strengthen Relationships: Learn four powerful techniques that reinforce your bond with your children.
Child Life ServicesSusan Cooper and Civita Brown- Individual or group grief and bereavement services for children who have experienced the loss of a family member, friend or pet.
- Child Life Therapy: medical play, pre-procedural teaching to lower stress levels in children who are going to be hospitalized or undergo medical procedures, have been hospitalized or undergone medical procedures or have a loved one who is, has been, or will be hospitalized or undergo medical procedures.
- Teddy Bear Clinic: a program for kindergartners that involves medical play to help reduce stress of doctor, hospital, or dentist visits.
- Funded by the Safe Schools Grant.
SPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACEHealthy Choices Boot CampCollaboration between: SVCSD, MSW & CL interns, Child Life Services, & BOCES Healthy Schools- A 6-week group for 3rd graders, focusing on introducing children to new, healthy foods and teaching them different physical activities via different outside presenters (dance, yoga, soccer, martial arts).
- Each session includes a healthy snack, nutrition lesson, and a physical activity.
- Students keep track of their exercise and food choices as they engage in a fun competition to earn prizes (ex: jump ropes, basketballs).
SPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACECharacter EducationPM Program, school staff- Kids are taught a "virtue of the month".
- Virtue is presented at Morning Program and reinforced in classrooms via literature etc.
- Kids get their name entered in drawing when they are caught displaying that virtue.
- A drawing is held at the end of each month.
SPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESocial Work InternsMasters level social work interns from SUNY Albany, supervised by Mr. Dischiavo(present 2 days a week for a full school year)- Therapeutic groups
- Individual Counseling
- Co-facilitate Healthy Choices Boot Camp
- Assist with the Bully Proof Your School program
- Assist with 1-2-3 Magic training
Bachelor's level interns from Utica College, seniors from Psych-Child Life program, supervised by Paul DischiavoPresent 5 days a week for a half year- Assist with therapeutic groups
- Assist children with behavioral, social, or emotional concerns
- Co-facilitate Healthy Choices Boot Camp
- Assist with the Bully Proof Your School program
- Assist with 1-2-3 Magic training
