Valley Kids Belong Program Director Desiree Caporaso hands a certificate and bag to
student Michael Corso to take home after completing the summer program. / Contributed photo
DERBY - Valley Kids Belong held its graduation July 31 at Derby Middle School where participants were awarded
certificates of completion for the four-week summer program, designed to enhance
social skills and decision making for children ages 6-14.
PCRC
was awarded a Connecticut Health Foundation Children’s Mental Health Grant for
the purpose of implementing a community-based system of early identification
and intervention over five years. Now in its final year, the summer program has
found its highest success with an altered curriculum.
In
prior years, the summer program encompassed 15 different topics. This
year, each week presented a different topic, including self-esteem, emotions
and bullying.
Within those pieces, students focus on problem-solving,
decision-making, coping skills and teamwork.
“We
felt the kids were able to grasp the ideas better than picking a different
topic each day,” said Program Director Desiree Caporaso.
“Fewer topics allowed
the students time to tie them in with each other. The smaller setting was
better to focus on interpreting relationships and working better together, and
to give each student specific attention depending on what their need is.”
During
the fourth program week, the group went on a field trip to Wells Hollow
Creamery in Shelton where the kids were introduced to farm animals.
The program
also allowed the children two opportunities to interact with preschool
students with special needs. During the final week, program participants helped
these children complete activities, including jewelry making and origami.
This
new curriculum has demonstrated success, according to Tracy Cerravone, a parent
of VKB program graduate, Trevor. “Trevor was disappointed it was his last day.
He loved it. To keep their attention at this age is fantastic. He came home
everyday excited and talked about the activities he was involved in. He’s done
numerous programs by himself and with the family, and it’s been a great
success,” said Cerravone.
Students
also found success through tutoring in a fun learning environment where they
read a book and completed interactive projects by comparing animals; one of the
groups generated an idea for a new product and came up with a selling pitch.
Other engaging activities included self-expression through artwork, Zumba,
team-building through sports, and igniting their curiosity with science
experiments. Science experiments included making lava lamps and learning the
effect of Mentos on soda.
“Over
the past four years, Valley Kids Belong has had an excellent record of helping
children develop social and emotional skills that will help them for a
lifetime, at home, in school and at work,” said Michael J. Wynne, PCRC Chief
Executive Officer.
Valley Kids Belong
works closely with the school systems to determine qualifications of prospective
student participants in the program, involving all who are connected with the
students, including parents, teachers and counselors.
An
underlying purpose of Valley Kids Belong is to increase awareness of mental health on a larger
scale. Through PCRC programming, students are able to address problem-solving
issues before they progress. “Students can learn coping skills and build
confidence to be able to handle social skills and decision making better. The
other part is to reduce involvement in the juvenile justice system. While it cannot be predetermined that a child
may get involved with the court system, we do know that if children are
resilient, have confidence in themselves and are able to effectively problem
solve, the chances of court involvement is reduced,” said Caporaso.
“There’s
nothing like VKB in the area – our program is all free to families.”
Valley
Kids Belong offers after-school programs, summer programs, Families &
Schools Together (FAST), and Triple P Positive Parenting Programs. These
programs cover ages 0-18.
Valley
Kids Belong is a grant-funded, collaborative project whose goal is to create
change in the community that helps foster resilience in kids and families. Valley Kids Belong believes that kids, their families and the organizations that support them can
work together to promote healthier kids – mentally, emotionally, socially and
educationally.
The program works directly with children, parents and families
to provide support in order to build social and emotional skills and to improve
family and community relationships
This is a press release from PCRC, the leading provider of
behavioral health services to children and families in the Lower Naugatuck
Valley.
Programs, including the Child Guidance Clinic, Family Enrichment
Service, Therapeutic Mentoring Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, and the
Prevention through Early Intervention Program, help children and their families
so that they may develop to their fullest potential.
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