Research and experience show that children and adolescents who struggle with emotional, behavioral and social problems do improve when they learn prosocial skills. Social skill instruction, therefore, can be a vital component in the treatment planning for a child diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Teaching Social Skills to Youth with Mental Health Disorders is a guide for therapists, counselors, psychologists, educators, and other practitioners trying to help these youth get better.

This popular manual presents an empirically tested format and ready-made curricula for skills training groups in a range of settings. Part I takes therapists and counselors step by step through assessing clients' existing skills, teaching new skills, and managing common treatment challenges. Part II comprises over 60 ready-to-photocopy skill sheets. Each sheet--essentially a complete lesson plan--explains the rationale for the skill at hand, breaks it down into smaller steps, suggests role-play scenarios, and highlights special considerations. Of special value for practitioners, the 8 1/2" x 11" format makes it easy to reproduce and use the practical materials in the book.

This definitive guide to social skills instruction features thirteen new skills and their behavioral steps, fresh insights into providing culturally responsive treatment that respects individual identity, more inclusive language, and updated research on social-emotional learning and executive function. The 196 social and life skills showcased in this fourth edition will empower young people to have greater success in school, at home, on the job, and in their relationships. Several of the new skills promote the values and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those skills include: · Sticking Up for Yourself · Sticking Up for Others · Agreeing to Disagree · Recognizing Your Own Personal Biases or Opinions Other new skills focus on personal autonomy (Gaining Consent, Giving Consent, and Responding to Persons of Authority). Plus, there are new skills that teach young people how to interact with law enforcement (Being Prepared for an Interaction with Law Enforcement and Responding to Law Enforcement/Police Interactions). The manual reflects and focuses on the importance of teaching social skills to youth of all ages, the elements of social behavior (task and behavior analysis), individual and group teaching techniques, generalization of skills, the role of skill-based interventions for difficult youth problems, and the Boys Town Social Skills Curriculum itself. For ease and convenience, there are four appendices that group skills by behavior problem areas, common situations or circumstances, social and emotional learning competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making), and skill type (social, emotional management, academic, moral/ethical, and independent living). Every skill is available for download and print through BoysTownPress.org. Skills are easily adaptable to reflect an individual’s specific abilities and cultural norms. Teaching Social Skills to Youth, Fourth Edition is ideal for classrooms, individual and group therapy, and job training programs. Educators and caregivers can use this guide to strengthen their cultural competence, increase the skill competency of children, help improve student behavior in school, and develop individualized service plans for troubled or at-risk youth. It is an excellent companion to the highly acclaimed Mental Health from Diagnosis to Delivery and Building Resiliency in Youth, both available from Boys Town Press. The authors have decades of experience working with children and families, and they are experts on issues related to youth aggression, antisocial behavior, abuse, delinquency, and mental health.

Parenting.

Classroom teachers, counselors, coaches, and administrators will find 37 practical, easy-to-use lesson plans to empower teens with the strategies and skills they need to handle bullying situations. The lessons can be blended into existing curricula or taught as stand-alone activities. As part of a positive behavior support model, counselors, mentors and others who work with at-risk students can use the lessons to supplement secondary intervention efforts. Topics include how to identify the players (bullies, bystanders, and victims), how to respond to bullying in common areas (hallways and parking lots) and at school events (dances and athletic contests), and how to use social skills to change behaviors and attitudes. Educators can increase students’ awareness about bullying behaviors, teach them problem solving and social skills, and encourage them to reflect on their own thoughts, words and actions. Quick tips on dealing with bullying problems are included for educators and other who work with teens. An enclosed CD allows making copies of the worksheets, handouts and social skill posters included in the lessons.

Well-Managed Schools offers a structured approach to school-wide behavior management, giving you effective strategies for empowering students with social and self-management skills while building positive relationships. With new information on the importance of social and emotional learning in the classroom and using multi-tiered support systems to address disruptive behavior, this manual is now an even more valuable tool in helping you improve and enhance your school's social and learning climate and build a true school "community." The authors describe the Boys Town Education Model, a school-based intervention strategy that emphasizes behavior-management practices, relationship-building techniques, and social skills instruction. They also provide step-by-step instructions and examples for proven teaching interactions that encourage positive behavior, reduce or prevent inappropriate behaviors, and correct misbehaviors.

This unique book provides teachers and other service providers the knowledge and skills for Positive Behavior Supports in school settings, thereby improving the academic and social skills of their students. It is written in an informational format that teachers and other service providers can immediately put to use. The text is generic across K-12 grade levels and focuses on Positive Behavior Supports in school settings. Each chapter begins with Key Point Questions, followed by two Window to the World Case Studies, information on the Key Point Questions, Discussion Questions, and Suggestions for Classroom and School Activities. Additionally, an overview of Positive Behavior Supports is provided, which includes Measuring Behavior, Functional Assessment and Analysis, Reinforcement, Punishment, Classroom Structure, Preventative Procedures and Interventions, Cooperative Learning and Peer Tutoring, and Family and Agency Involvement. The Self-Management Strategies, Social Skills Instruction, and School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports are vital areas of knowledge. This “How To” book is written for teachers and other direct service providers in a non-technical manner with specific real-world examples.