STAR Program
| The S.T.A.R. (Skills Training for Affective Relationships) Program is a camp-style group that equips children who desire friendships with the skills necessary to make and maintain friendships, and provides a safe and exciting environment in which to apply these skills. Based on the work of Arnold P. Goldstein but modified to meet the needs of participants, the S.T.A.R. program utilizes scientifically validated procedures to individualize learner goals and ensure successful participation.
Skillstreaming is a psychoeducational intervention- its roots are in both psychology and education. Although used initially by therapists in the mental health field, its processes focus on four direct instruction principles of learning. These learning procedures- modeling, role playing, feedback and transfer- have been used to teach a variety of behaviors, from academic competencies to sports, daily living skills and vocational skills. The Skillstreaming curriculum includes individualized skill sets consisting of: group survival skills, friendship-making skills, skill alternatives to social abandonment and tools for interacting in varying social settings. Our S.T.A.R. group offers small group training opportunities and instruction designed to increase social language and reciprocative social behaviors. Social Skills groups provide a safe and exciting environment for your child to blossom. Music, Art, Interactive games, and Physical Education are a few of the platforms used to ensure that your child is eager to learn, and continues to thrive in the social group setting. |
Why Social Skills? |
 A major focus in the current education process is to increase test scores and achieve age and grade standards in reading, writing and mathematics. This heavy emphasis in schools leaves little, if any time for social skills instruction. When time is afforded to social skills, it is typically loosely structured; children with appropriate social skills engage with their peers while children who do not possess the social skills necessary to engage in play, conversation and general interactions with their peers do not succeed in social time. Many, in fact, prefer a structured classroom setting to the “free-time” during which natural socialization occurs. These children often find a “spot on the fence” for the duration of social time. Those who desire social interactions may attempt to socialize with peers, but do not have the skills required to sustain interactions. In some cases, children engage in disruptive or “silly” behaviors to gain the attention of their peers or escape an uncomfortable interaction. |
How is S.T.A.R. Structured? |
| ABLE Academy’s S.T.A.R. group offers a “camp” style environment in which your child will learn and be afforded immediate opportunities to apply social skills necessary for building friendships. Designed and implemented by certified teachers and behavior analysts, the program utilizes individual baseline data for social skills sets to successfully meet the needs of each participant.
Leaders of S.T.A.R. employ only validated teaching procedures based in the science of human behavior. The S.T.A.R. group meets once per week at ABLE Academy for twelve-week sessions. Space is limited to six participants. Participants will be grouped according to their specific needs; if the group make-up is not appropriate for the needs of your child, your child’s name will remain on a pending enrollment list. At the time that an appropriate group is formed, your child will be invited to attend. Implementation of the S.T.A.R. group requires a minimum enrollment of four children. Individual data is maintained on each participant during each session. |
