Program Design for the Student with an Emotional Disability (Series Begins Oct. 10, 2024) (Registration Closed) – The Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.

For this webinar series, participants will automatically be enrolled in all 5 sessions.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Speaker

Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., Hirshberg Behavioral Services, LLC

Description

Students with an emotional disability can present with behavioral challenges that impact their ability to make effective academic progress in the general education setting. It can be difficult to develop effective programming for these students so that they can make academic gains while building improved regulation skills. This training will cover important aspects of social-emotional program design, including entry/exit criteria, skill building approaches, inclusion planning, and staff self-care.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Following the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session. If you are not eligible for PDPs and/or CEUs, you may apply for a Certificate of Attendance.

What does it mean to have an ‘emotional disability’? This vague term is used for educational purposes but comprises a wide range of symptoms and behaviors. This session will provide a common way of thinking about these students and how this conceptualization informs program development. In addition, this session will focus on how districts can determine whether the social-emotional program represents the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for the student.

Social-emotional programs are unique because the goal is for students to graduate from the program and return fully to the general education setting. This session will explore the pros and cons of different program models to meet student emotional needs and build skills needed for graduation. Additionally, this session will review team member’s roles in the skill-building process.

Effective social-emotional programs look for opportunities for students to access their education in the inclusion setting. The challenge is determining when a student is ready to be meaningfully included – participating mostly independently in the same activities the rest of the class is engaging in. This session focuses on how the program can prepare students for inclusion and how to use data to determine when a student can access inclusion and when support can be faded to allow the student greater levels of independence.

Educators face many obstacles when implementing a successful social-emotional program. This session will review structures that must be in place to keep the program running smoothly throughout the year. Such obstacles include students in the program who may exhibit a sudden increase in mental health symptoms and/or disruptive behaviors and the potential for new referrals to change the program dynamic.

In the final session, we will focus on helping program staff manage their own stress and emotions as they work with this vulnerable population. This session will focus on building emotional awareness of burnout. Concrete strategies will be provided to help staff address burnout when it occurs so that they can maintain patience and empathy with the students they serve.

About the Speakers

Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., Hirshberg Behavioral Services, LLC

Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., (he/him) is the founder and executive director of Hirshberg Behavioral Health Services, LLC in Hadley, Massachusetts. Dr. Hirshberg is a clinical psychologist who provides behavioral consultation, professional development, and psychological assessment services to schools across Massachusetts. He also has a small outpatient therapy practice focused on using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for individuals with anxiety and mood disorders. His interest areas include Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in schools, trauma informed practices, and developing in-district social-emotional programs.

Session 3 – inclusion planning slides

session 4 slides

session 5 slides

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must pass the quiz following Session 5.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.

Enrollment in this course closed on 10/10/2024.

If you are seeking to receive CEUs and/or PDPs, please click Register Now. Once you complete the webinar series, you will be able to take quizzes for CEUs and/or PDPs. Upon completion of each quiz, you will receive a certificate.

All sessions are 12:00 – 2:00 pm.