Elementary DAEP Counseling Services
Services Provided
Grand Prairie provides a therapeutic elementary Discipline Alternative Education Program(DAEP). Students who receive a DAEP placement due to a negative behavior will all receive the opportunity to participate in counseling services including a needs assessment, goal-setting sessions, social skills training, and processing sessions. The student will also receive support from the DAEP counseling program as he or she works to successfully transition back to the home campus.
Needs Assessment
The DAEP therapist will attend the intake (initial meeting with school officials to review rules of DAEP) and gather information (http://www.search-institute.org/families). The elementary DAEP counseling program follows a model called a systems approach.
This will allow each child to receive the resources necessary to achieve academic success, work toward personal goals, and address any areas of concern.
The elementary DAEP therapist is available to support students, their families and their home campuses (
http://www.search-institute.org/families, http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/sw_case_mgmt.asp ).
Goal-Setting
The DAEP counseling program provides goal-setting sessions in both individual and group formats. This is to help students identify motivation or possible needs for change (motivational interviewing). Why Try is a curriculum that several of the elementary DAEP staff utilizes to help students identify goals. Why Try was created to prevent school dropouts, violence, drug and alcohol use, truancy, improve grades, and address bullying issues (whytry.org).
Social Skills Training
The counseling program also includes social skills training in individual and group sessions. Group sessions allow students the opportunity to use role-play acquire appropriate social skills and role play how to get help in tough situations. Why Try Curriculum and Self Regulation for Kids K-12 are examples of activities used as part of our social skills training (whytry.org; Tollison, 2011). Other material providing information on relaxation skills, self-regulation, identifying feelings, communication, anger management, and other skills identified as needed for students are possible topics for social skills training. The groups provide hands-on activities, such as art, role-play, therapeutic games or play, and discussion, to allow students to express themselves and learn. By using these developmentally appropriate forms of communicating, children are more likely to express themselves, relieve boredom, connect to others in a positive way, and engage in critical thinking skills (Landreth, 2002).
Processing Sessions
Role play, therapeutic books and games, play therapy techniques, as well as other evidence-based practices will be used to assist students as they plan their transition back to their school (Jongsma, 2006).
During processing sessions, students are able to process any concerns they have. They can also identify their personal behavior struggles and practice using new skills learned.
Transition Services
The elementary DAEP therapist and GPISD support students after they return to their home campuses by providing a wide range of services that promote students' successful transition back to the regular classroom setting..
GPISD Elementary DAEP Counseling Program thanks parents for their dedication to their child and to their success in learning and in life. For more information please contact the elementary DAEP therapist.
Rebekah Swaim, LCSW
Elementary DAEP Therapist
972-343-4565
