Healthy Relationship Workbook for students with IDD

The Healthy Relationships Workbook (for people with learning difficulties) is a free series of worksheets and activities designed to help individuals with a developmental or intellectual disability learn about healthy relationships, as well as what constitutes an abusive relationship and what to do in such a case. The workbook uses simplistic language for people with IDD (people with developmental or intellectual disabilities) and contains at least one subject per page, which also include large black and white illustrations that can be used for coloring. Allowing participants to color during these activities can increase reader connection to the material. This workbook is most effective when participants use the workbook with a trusted adult, in the case that any questions arise.

            I found this workbook to be a practical example because I have several students with IDD and many of them are finally at the age where they are becoming sexually curious. Addressing these concerns can be a bit more challenging for students with IDD because they might have difficulty in comprehending certain themes, due to their lack of social and intellectual development. The Healthy Relationships Workbook provides students with IDD the opportunity to learn about healthy relationships in a comfortable environment with practical information that is easy to understand and provides them with insightful resources that they can use in their everyday lives.

Here is the link to the full workbook (and it's free!)

http://arcwhatcom.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Healthy-Relationship-Workbook.pdf

Automatic and Coping thoughts

At my internship, I'm constantly trying to help students deal with the Negative Automatic thoughts many of them encounter on a day-to-day basis. These thoughts are often so ingrained that it can be paralyzing for them. Many of these thoughts are the basis of their anxiety. For example, I hear students thinking they're going to fail, that a class or the school is too hard, that they'll never get into a good college, and everyone but them is understanding a concept. My goal in working with these students is to get them to think of coping thoughts which can ultimately impact their feelings and behaviors. Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected; by changed or recognizing one hopefully the others are positively impacted. When a student comes to the office saying they are going to fail, it is my goal for them to be able to say something such as "I probably won't get an A, but I'll do okay". Armed with these coping thoughts, hopefully, their behaviors are less defeated.

The first worksheet has common automatic thoughts with corresponding Coping Thoughts. I often will practice these with my students. For ones who have less experience, I'll try to provide them with examples, but more experienced students I definitely will ask them to give me the examples. 

The second worksheet asks the student to identify a stressful situation that happened that week or something that happens often. After that, they're asked to list their automatic thoughts and make the connection to how they feel. After identifying their automatic thoughts and feelings, they are asked to list 5 coping thoughts that could make the situation better.

This has been a helpful approach for me, especially with finals coming up. Hope it can help you as well!

Text-A-Tip

          “Text-A-Tip” is an anonymous text communication system, based in Lake county, that provides users with immediate mental health services. To use the services, members simply download the app on their smart phone, make an ID, and send a message. Responders are all licensed and certified mental health professionals from Barrington Behavioral Health and Wellness and are on call 24/7. While the service is anonymous, emergency responders will be notified in the case of a life-threatening emergency or criminal activity. Text-A-Tip is partnered with several Lake county organizations, including, Lake County Opioid Initiative, Lake County Regional Office of Education, LEAD, a Lake Forest based non-profit, partnered with the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center, the Child Adolescent and Family Recovery Center, and Barrington Behavioral Health & Wellness.

            I felt that this service was particularly interesting because one of my students uses the service quite regularly and says the app is very helpful. This came as a surprise to me, not because I thought the service wasn’t a good idea, but because I was a bit skeptical of students actually using the service. It turns out that one of my students actually uses Text-A-Tip and finds it very helpful when she is experiencing a crisis. Communal mental health services, such as Text-A-Tip, can provide supplemental mental health support for students beyond the school environment. Since my school’s campus has 3 social workers, we can only provide so much counseling and many students and their families are often reluctant to follow through with our referrals. Text-A-Tip is great supplemental support systems for teens and adolescents, who may be unable to receive traditional mental health services.

A Brief explanation of Text-A-Tip, as well as how the program came to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Bk_Aw6EKZI4

Text-A-Tip homepage

http://www.leadingefforts.org/text-a-tip/

Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS)

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support

This intervention was first created by a school social worker at a school in Michigan. The program offers tier I, II, and III supports for students in the classroom. It is used to help student who are suffering from anxiety, depression, constant criers, and among other distressful behaviors. If these interventions are not effective, the school social worker may switch to tier II supports. I feel this intervention is very helpful to students who are struggling with issues in the classroom. There are fees to use the intervention tool and I feel it is beneficial for the classroom.

http://www.pbisworld.com/

https://www.whyliveschool.com/?s=pbis

Teen Talk In a Jar

Teen Talk In a Jar

         A few months ago, I began working with an eighth grade student who was experiencing conflicts with peers and having difficulties making friends. When we first began working together, I had a difficult time getting the student to open up to me. The sessions would usually consist of me asking questions and the student answering with one of two word answers. I felt that this was not very effective, because I was not able to help the student if he was not comfortable talking to me. After asking my supervisor what to do, he suggested that I tried to start conversations about topics of his interest. I decided to use "Teen Talk In a Jar," to get to know the student more and see what interests him. The questions in the jar are based on the topics of body and mind, family, school, relationships, and the future. 

Some of the questions in the jar are:

• Where do you go when you feel the need to get away?
• What helps cheer you up when you're having a bad day?
• If you could take a trip in a time machine, would you travel into the future of back to the past?
• What qualities do you look for when choosing your friends?

Not only did this help the student open up to me, but I was able to learn more about the student's personal interests.

Some of the other items that are sold are: 

Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention: The 1-2-3 of Treatment Planning

The book, Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention: The 1-2-3 of Treatment Planning, has been one of the most useful books that I have used at my school internship.  This book includes a list of all DSM5 diagnosis and how to treat them based on how your client is showing certain criteria.  What’s great about this book is that it also has information on other issues outside of the DSM-5 such as Suicide, physical pain, social issues, bullying and much more.  The book also has some useful forms for all social workers.  These forms include confidentiality, suicide contracts and much more. 

Where this book is limited is that it is not specific to the school setting.  The book is more general and will give you information for all areas of social work. 

The book is compiled of best practices for each diagnosis or specific situation that a client is facing.  

All interventions in the book are evidence based.  One thing that is important with this book to know is that since it is evidence based and new research is always being conducted, it is best to buy the most current version.  

Sequin Pillow

This pillow has sequins that can change color based on the direction you rub on the pillow.  This one has black and gold.  They come in many color combinations and shapes.

This can be useful for students who are anxious or are fidgeting.  I learned of this when I was at an IEP meeting for my son.  He was rocking back and forth while trying to talk to us, so his special education teacher gave him a sequin pillow like this.  He spend the rest of the meeting sitting still and rubbing the pillow back and forth.  He was able to talk without distraction for the rest of the meeting.

I feel this could be a useful tool to have in our offices for kids with anxiety or sensory needs.  I see this useful for a student who is upset and needs something to help them calm down.

This was purchased at the store 5 Below for $5.00.