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 The LIFE/Incredible
Years (IY) Program
Description
of service provided:
The LIFE/IY Program is a preventative school-based mental
health program that provides goal-oriented services to
at-risk students and their families. This is an
individualized program that addresses the needs/areas of
concern of each identified student. LIFE/IY caseworkers work
cooperatively with students, their families and school
personnel on the development specific goals for each
student. These goals, along with the methods that will be
used to assist each child in reaching their goals, are put
into a Support Plan; no two support plans are the
same. LIFE/IY caseworkers work either directly with the
students in the classroom or on a one to one basis;
depending on the age and needs of each student.
LIFE caseworkers also assist with/provide services to school
personnel in various groups such as a homework group or
mentoring group. LIFE caseworkers participate with their
school’s Instructional Support Teams and can offer
assistance to other teachers who have questions or concerns
about their students.
Children’s
Prevention Services supports the Incredible Years Program
and has incorporated its curriculum into the LIFE Program
for students in Kindergarten through second grade.
Incredible Years is an evidence-based program endorsed by
the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Research has
shown that Incredible Years facilitation to young children
decreases risky behaviors later in life such as delinquency,
violence and substance abuse. Incredible Years curriculum
can be incorporated into participating student’s support
plans as well as being implemented in group settings with
age appropriate students.
LIFE/IY also offers a summer component in the Johnsonburg
Elementary School for students in grades Kindergarten
through six; along with a Kindergarten Readiness Program.
Geographical area of service:
The LIFE/Incredible Years Program is offered in the following schools
throughout Elk and Cameron
counties:
Bennetts Valley Elementary – St. Marys Area School
District
Fox Township Elementary – St. Marys Area School
District
Johnsonburg Elementary – Johnsonburg Area School
District
South St. Marys St. Elementary – St. Marys Area
School District
St. Marys Catholic Elementary School
St. Marys Area Middle School – St. Marys Area School
District
Woodland Elementary School – Cameron County School
District
Admission Criteria:
Students are referred to LIFE/IY because they are experiencing
academic, behavioral and/or emotional difficulties at
school.
Parents may also be noting the same or similar difficulties
in the home.
How to access service:
Students are referred to the program generally through the
Instructional Support Team or through the school guidance
counselor. Parents may also request assistance through their
school’s administration, or by contacting a LIFE/IY caseworker
on their own.
Address and hours of operation:
The LIFE/Incredible Years Program is part of DMHC’s Children’s Prevention
Services which is located at:
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302
4 Erie Avenue
P.O. Box 599
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours of operation are from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
The LIFE/IY Program is available during the regular school
year.
How consumers pay for service:
The LIFE/IY Program is funded through our local Cameron/Elk
Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program, the participating
school districts and other outside grants. This enables the
program
to be offered to the students and their families at no
charge to them.
Name of program director, main office phone number and
fax:
Elk County
Ms. Shelly Meier
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Cameron County
Ms. Tana Funair
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
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The Student
Assistance Program
Description of service provided:
The Student Assistance Program provides prevention services
to students who are experiencing any type of difficulty,
concern or behavior that is making it difficult for them to
succeed in school. The Student Assistance Program offers a
screening to referred students which gathers background in
the areas of school, medical and, family history, peer
relations, drug or alcohol use/history, past/current mental
health history, suicidal and homicidal ideation, self
injurious behavior along with the student’s own impressions
about what their situation is currently. Following the
screening, a recommendation is made for students to be
referred back to the SAP team for monitoring, three to five
supportive counseling sessions with the mental health
liaison in school, or for an outside referral. Outside
referrals can include but are not limited to, full mental
health evaluation, outpatient counseling, family counseling,
drug and alcohol intervention, family doctor or referral to
crisis intervention.
Student Assistance Program mental health liaisons are also
available to assist schools with students who are in a
crisis situation. These students may be suicidal, homicidal
or have had something happen that has left them upset enough
that they are requesting to speak to someone as soon as
possible. Following a Crisis Screening, recommendations are
made. Again, the recommendation could be three to five
supportive counseling sessions, referral to a hospital for a
face to face evaluation or assisting the student/family with
pursuing outpatient services.
Student Assistance Program mental health liaisons are also
ready to assist their school’s faculty and/or students in
the event of a school-wide crisis such as an accident or
death of a student or faculty member.
Geographical area of service:
The Student Assistance Program is offered in the following
schools throughout Elk and
Cameron counties:
Elk County Catholic High School
Cameron County Middle/High School
Johnsonburg Area Middle/High School
Ridgway Area Middle/High School
St. Marys Area Middle School
St. Marys Area High School
St. Marys Catholic Middle School
Coudersport Area High School
Austin Area High School
Oswayo Valley High School
Galeton Area High School
The Student Assistance Program is also being offered on an
elementary level. An elementary-friendly screening is used
in these schools and the recommendations remain the same as
in the middle and high schools. These participating schools
are:
Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School – Ridgway
Area School District
Johnsonburg Elementary School – Johnsonburg Area
School District
Admission Criteria:
Students are referred to the Student Assistance Program
because they are experiencing an academic, behavioral and/or
emotional difficulty that is making it difficult for them to
succeed in school. Potter County assists students
grades 5-12.
How to access service:
Students are referred to SAP through several different ways.
A teacher, other school faculty member, parent, relative or
friend can let their school know about a student with whom
they are concerned. A student can refer themselves to the
program by talking to a member of their school’s SAP team,
guidance counselor or other school faculty. The school must
receive parental permission before a screening can be done
on a student.
Address and hours of operation:
Elk and Cameron Counties
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302
4 Erie Avenue
P.O. Box 599
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours of operation are from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
The Student Assistance Program is available during the
regular school year.
Potter County
Gunzburger Annex Building
3rd Floor
1 North Main St.
Coudersport, PA 16915
Hours of operation are from 8:00am - 5:00pm
How consumers pay for service:
This program is offered at no charge for students and their
families. The Student Assistance Program receives funding
from the Department of Public Welfare. Dickinson Mental
Health Center holds the contract with Cameron Elk Mental
Health/Mental Retardation Services to provide this program
in Elk and Cameron counties. On the elementary level,
schools can utilize funding for Elementary Student
Assistance Program services (as they are needed/requested).*
Name of program director, main office phone number and
fax:
Elk County
Ms. Shelly Meier
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Cameron County
Ms. Tana Funair
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Potter County
Deborah Hamilton
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 274-8651
Fax: (814) 274-8652
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The
Signs of Suicide®
Prevention Program
Description of service provided:
The Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program offers middle
and high school students curriculum aimed at teaching them
the warning signs and symptoms of depression and suicide.
The curriculum, delivered by SOS staff and Student
Assistance Program staff, is presented first through a video
(there is a video designed for middle school students and a
video designed for high school students). Each video teaches
symptoms of depression and warning signs for suicide as well
as what students should do if they or someone they know
(friend or family member) is telling them they are feeling
depressed or suicidal. Students are taught the acronym ACT
which stands for Acknowledge, Care and Tell (acknowledge the
problem, respond with care and tell a trusted adult).
Additionally, it is explained to students that at no time
should they ever keep secret someone’s plan to hurt
themselves or another person nor is it their job to try to
fix the problem alone; along with trying to help them
understand that suicide is a permanent solution to a
treatable problem, usually depression. Following the video, a
response card is given to each student which provides them
with the opportunity to speak to someone about the
information that has just been presented.
For high school students, following the video, a Brief
Screen for Adolescent Depression screening is administered.
Students are instructed to answer the screening questions
honestly. Two questions on the screening are directly
related to suicidal thoughts and attempts. After the
screenings have been completed and collected, they are
reviewed by the SOS/SAP staff. Students who score high are
met with to see if further services are needed. Students who
answer “yes” to the suicide-related questions are met with
immediately and referrals/recommendations are made.
For the middle school students, there are two follow-up
games that staff can offer which reinforces the information
they just learned regarding signs and symptoms of depression
and suicide as well as what to do if they find themselves in
a situation where they or someone they know are at risk.
Geographical area of service:
The Signs of Suicide Prevention Program is offered to
students in an identified grade in the following schools
throughout Elk and Cameron
counties:
Elk County Catholic High School
Cameron County Middle/High School – Cameron County
School District
Johnsonburg Area Middle/High School – Johnsonburg
Area School District
Ridgway Area Middle/High School – Ridgway Area School
District
St. Marys Area Middle School – St. Marys Area School
District
St. Marys Area High School – St. Marys Area School
District
St. Marys Catholic Middle School
Admission Criteria:
Each school identifies a grade and those students will
participate in the SOS curriculum; provided the school has
first received parental permission.
How to access service:
School personnel send home a consent explaining the program
for parental permission. Schools use either a passive or
active consent form. Only those students whose parents have
given their permission can participate in the Signs of
Suicide Prevention Program.
Address and hours of operation:
The Signs of Suicide Prevention Program is part of DMHC’s
Children’s Prevention Services which is located at:
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302
4 Erie Avenue
P.O. Box 599
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours of operation are from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
The Signs of Suicide Prevention Program is available during
the regular school year.
How consumers pay for service:
This program is offered at no charge for students and their
families. This program is made possible through the funding
of the A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust.*
Name of program director, main office phone number and
fax:
Elk County
Ms. Shelly Meier
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Cameron County
Ms. Tana Funair
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
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PARENTS AS TEACHERS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
 Parents As Teachers (PAT)
Description of service provided:
Parents As Teachers is an early childhood parent education
and family support program serving families until their
child enters Kindergarten, usually age 5. The program
model consists of four components: Personal visits offer
parents age-appropriate child development information, help
them to observe their child, address parenting concerns
and engage the family in activities that provide meaningful
parent-child interaction. Group meetings provide
opportunities for families to share information about
parenting issues and observe their children in a social
setting. Screenings are conducted to provide early
identification of developmental delays and health, vision,
and hearing problems and increase parents' understanding of
their child's development. A resource network helps
families identify and connect with needed resources, and
overcome barriers to accessing services.
Parents
as Teachers Children's Center located in the Community
Education Council, 4 Erie Avenue, First Floor
The
Children’s Center allows the Parents as Teachers program
to offer an extra learning opportunity to Elk County.
The center promotes unstructured, child directed play
experiences for children through kindergarten age. Play
is essential to a child’s healthy development, with
research proving that it stimulates brain growth. Play
allows children to use their creativity while developing
imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive and
emotional strength. This fun developmentally appropriate
play environment offers young children and their
families an opportunity to play.
Children's Center Lending Library
The lending library consists of children’s literature
books, educational software and videos, adult
educational materials and other resources to support our
families and
 schools
for children between the ages birth to five. These
materials are available to parents, children and schools
in Elk County.
Children's Center
Hours
(Effective June 2010)
Tuesday 9am-2pm
Wednesday 9am-2pm
Thursday 9am-2pm
Friday 9am-2pm
*PAT Play groups held every Friday 10am - 11:30am
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 The
LIFE/Incredible
Years Program, with Dickinson Mental Health Center’s
Children’s Prevention Services, annually offers a
Kindergarten Readiness Program in conjunction with the
Johnsonburg Elementary School. This year they are
excited to be incorporating Handwriting without
Tears, an award-winning Pre-K curriculum which
teaches children how to write their letters using a
multisensory approach. Lynn Floravit of DMHC’s
Children’s Prevention Services
Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program facilitates
the curriculum. One method used to reinforce the lines
and curves necessary for printing letters is to have the
children construct the letters with wood pieces shaped
liked the lines and curves. DMHC’s own
Elkwood Arts made the
wood pieces being used at the Kindergarten Readiness
program. The program is available to all incoming
Kindergarten students and is designed to prepare
children for their entrance to Kindergarten. The
students gain an awareness and sense of familiarity of
the building in which they will be attending school. A
daily routine including snack and bathroom break is
followed in order to prepare the children for the
routine of school. Physical fitness, music and art are
all incorporated into the daily schedule.
The program promotes recognition of colors, shapes,
letters, numbers, etc. Students learn letter sounds as
well as proper printing strategies. |
Geographic area of service:
Elk County
Admission criteria:
Elk County family with children from birth through
Kindergarten entry.
PAT Referral Form
(Requires
Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
How to
access service:
Contact 834-2602
Address
and hours of operation:
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302
4 Erie Avenue
P.O. Box 599
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours of operation are from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Home visits are scheduled at the convenience of the family.
How
consumers pay for service:
There is no charge for this service. The program is
funded by Elk County Children & Youth Services, St. Marys
United Way, Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund, and the
Elk County Development Fund.
Name of
program director, main office phone number and fax:
Ms.
Lianne Schneider
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
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 Staying
Connected with your Teen (SCT)
Description of service provided:
Five session parenting series teaches parents and teens the
skills they need to improve family communication and family
bonding. It draws on extensive research that
demonstrates the critical importance of parent involvement
in reducing or inhibiting adolescent participation in
antisocial behaviors.
Geographic area of service:
Elk County
Admission criteria:
Elk County families with children 12-18
SCT Referral Form
(Requires
Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
How to
access service:
Contact 834-2602
Address
and hours of operation:
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302
4 Erie Avenue
P.O. Box 599
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours of operation are from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Workshop available at times and locations that meet
participants' needs
How
consumers pay for service:
There is no charge for this service. The program is
funded by Elk County Children and Youth Services.
Name of
program director, main office phone number and fax:
Ms.
Lianne Schneider
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
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 The Incredible Years
Description of service provided:
Twelve session parenting workshop that focuses on learning
to play with your child to develop a positive parent-child
relationship, how to use praise and incentives to build your
child's social confidence, establishing effective limit
setting and increasing your child's willingness to
cooperate, how to ignore negative behaviors and redirect
behavior and use time out effectively.
Geographic area of service:
Elk County
Admission criteria:
Elk County families with children ages 2-10
Incredible Years Referral Form
(Requires
Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
How to
access service:
Contact 834-2602
Address
and hours of operation:
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302
4 Erie Avenue
P.O. Box 599
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours of operation are from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Workshop available at times and locations that meet
participants' needs
How
consumers pay for service:
There is no charge for this service. The program is
funded by Elk County Children & Youth Services and the
Children’s Trust Fund.
Name of
program director, main office phone number and fax:
Ms.
Lianne Schneider
Program Supervisor
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
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 The Wellness Program
Description of service provided:
The priority of the Wellness Program is to promote healthy
lifestyles in Elk County. The Wellness nurse will take a
holistic approach in providing nursing services that will
impact the physical, emotional and nutritional status of our
youth.
Geographic area of service:
Elk County
Admission criteria:
The Wellness program has prioritized children birth to 18
years of age that are currently enrolled with Children's
Prevention services. This program will also provide services
to the community and schools of Elk County, where efforts
are focused on the wellness of our children. Referrals
should reflect our target age group of birth to 18 years of
age.
How to
access service:
The Wellness nurse is referral based. A referral form must
be completed and may be obtained by contacting Children's
Prevention Services.
Address
and hours of operation:
The Community Education Council Building
Suite 302, 4 Erie Avenue
St. Marys, PA 15857
Hours: 8AM to 4PM Monday thru Friday
How
consumers pay for service:
The Wellness Program has been developed and is maintained by
a grant awarded by Stackpole Hall Foundation. At this time,
there is not a fee for service.
Name of
program director, main office phone number and fax:
Adair Rohr, RN
Program Coordinator
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
Ms. Jennifer Dippold
Director of Children's Prevention Services
Phone: (814) 834-2602
Fax: (814) 834-1173
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