School Based Programs

The Saratoga Center for the Family offers school based education and prevention programs designed to help meet the needs of students, families and school personnel within a school district.

We recognize that the effects of abuse, anger and lack of positive family communication often contribute to academic difficulty, so the The Center offers annual programs to school districts in the area.

· Educating and Empowering Kids to Stay Safe
· Strengthening Families
· Parenting Programs
· Anger Management
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Educating and Empowering Kids to Stay Safe

Educating and Empowering Children to Stay Safe is an educational program that meets the New York State mandate to annually educate all students’ kindergarten through sixth grade concerning prevention of child sexual abuse.

Program Objectives
• Decrease the incidence and effects of child abuse and neglect
• Increase student, parent and faculty awareness of ways to keep children safe
• Offer supportive services to families and school personnel to help meet identified needs in students, enabling them to be more successful in school
• Assist schools in meeting the New York State mandate with a child friendly program presented by facilitators trained specifically in this area
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Strengthening Families

Strengthening Families is a nationally recognized and evaluated program for youth in grades 4 - 8 that includes parents/caregivers. This program is designed to improve family communication, improve family problem solving skills, and prevent drug/alcohol use. The program is recognized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Program Objectives
• Decrease the incidence of inappropriate behaviors in students
• Increase parent involvement with students' academic and personal interests
• Offer supportive services to families and school based personnel to help meet identified needs in students, enabling them to be more successful in school
• Assist schools in delivering programs that help improve student and parent interaction that often get in the way of student’s academic learning
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Parenting Programs

Focus upon the various needs of caregivers in search of education and support during the challenging times of parenting.

Groups are designed to meet the needs of caregivers interested in improving their parenting skills and developing child-rearing knowledge and skills.

Program content may include:
• Using love and limits
• Encouraging good behavior and using consequences in a positive way
• Building family communication and using family meetings
• Developing own personal parenting goals
• Understanding family values and roles
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Anger Management

Anger Management is an educational program that helps students learn how to assess and monitor their anger and develop skills to safely and appropriately express their feeling. This program is an educational and therapeutic on site group for identified students or offered as a 2 part classroom presentation.

Program Objectives
• Decrease the incidence of inappropriate behavior in students
• Increase student, parent and faculty awareness of appropriate strategies to use when expressing anger
• Offer supportive services to families and school personnel to help meet identified needs in students, enabling them to be more successful in school
• Assist schools in delivering programs that help prevent bullying and anger issues that often get in the way of students academic learning