The Saturday Youth Academy (SYA) is one component of a interdisciplinary progran titled Project Healthy Grandparents (PHG). PHG is designed to provide an array of health, legal and social services to support grandparents raising grandchildren. For grandchildren who are trying to cope with parental abandonment, substance abuse issues, and violence, one of their greatest needs is mental health support. A recent study of PHG grandchildren revealed that 38% had emotional problems, and virtually all children being raised by their grandparents could benefit from professional mental health support and counseling. Designed to overcome some of the barriers to accessing children's mental health services, (e.g., long waiting lists at community mental health facilities, underdeveloped relationships with mental health professionals, lack of transportation), SYA provides 10 week sessions of age appropriate group therapy, combined with cultural and recreational opportunities for children ages 5-16 years.Targeted to direct service providers, program managers and administrators, the focus of this workshop is to present an overview of the Saturday Youth Academy and illustrate its approach to addressing the mental health needs of grandchildren being raised by their grandparents.
Learning Objectives: - To present an overview of the Saturday Youth Academy as a component of Project Healthy Grandparents, including its focus, target population and service structure - To describe the Saturday Youth Academy curriculum o Play therapy for children ages 5-6 o Partially directive play therapy for children ages 7-11 o Discussion therapy for children ages 12-16 o Cultural/Recreational Activities - To present preliminary evaluation results of the Saturday Youth Academy curriculum - To address program management issues
Keywords: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Community-Based Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.