Programs for Children
Community Support Services
Our Mission
To help individuals who have developmental, behavioral, or learning disabilities be successful in their homes, schools, jobs, and communities often requires specialized supports. Families and professionals who care for these individuals can receive training and consultative services from Groden Center specialists through its Community Support Services (CSS) department.
Range of Services
The CSS Department is comprised of a team of experienced professionals representing different specialty areas including: psychology, applied behavior analysis, and special education. Services are tailored to meet the needs of the referring agent and may include:
Specialty Evaluations – Behavioral/functional analysis, psychological evaluation, diagnostic evaluations, vocational assessment
Program Consultation – On site assessment, treatment, and consultation services for individuals, schools, group homes, families, and other agencies involved in the treatment of individuals with behavioral and/or developmental disabilities. Specialized assessment and intervention programs are designed according to the specific needs of the individual, classroom, agency, and/or family. These may include: individualized or classroom/school-wide behavior intervention plans, individual or group based therapeutic interventions, educational or vocational programming. Training in the implementation of these programs is provided in schools, work, home, or other agency settings. Services can be requested for short term or on-going consultation and are provided across Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Eastern Connecticut.
Group Therapy – Social skills groups are conducted at the CSS office throughout the school year. Educational agencies can request on-site group therapy services and training in conducting group programs on a contractual basis.
Professional Development /Parent Training – Presentations and workshops are provided on a wide variety of topics related to developmental and behavioral disabilities. Topics may include but are not limited to: Positive Behavioral Supports, Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism, Asperger Syndrome), Relaxation and Picture Rehearsal, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Applied Behavior Analysis/ Functional assessment, Social Skills Training, Functional curriculum and instructional strategies.
Referral Process
School or agency administrators, other service providers, individuals, or family members can contact the CSS Referral and Service Coordinator at 274-6310, ext. 1242. Initial referral information will be gathered to determine the general nature of the service needs and potential funding source. Funding typically comes from local school departments or state agencies such as those serving children, youth, and adults with disabilities. Once a contractual agreement is developed, a specialist is assigned to the case and services are initiated.
Therapy Programs
The Community Support Services program at the Groden Center is proud to offer therapy programs for children and adults. The groups will focus on social awareness, problem solving, stress and anger management, and self evaluation and awareness. Skills training focuses on the development of skills needed to promote friendship development and stress management.
2012 Winter/Spring Asperger's Group Programs:
Therapeutic Activity Social Club
This is a community-based group for children ages 8-10 with Asperger’s Syndrome or similar social needs. This group is designed to promote the application of social skills in a variety of different social environments within the community. Group leaders will use natural teaching opportunities during a variety of recreational activities to provide social coaching in the areas of initiating and maintaining conversation, positive peer interaction, making and maintaining friendships and dealing with disappointment. *Some pre-requisite skills are required for participation in this group.
Date/Time: Beginning January 2012. Eight Saturday sessions. Start date to be determined based on the number of referrals received. Maximum of 6 participants for this group. Please call to reserve a spot!
Location: Location will change based on specific activity every week. Children should be dropped off at specific activity location. All activity locations chosen will be in the Providence area.
Clinician: Kristen Acciari, LICSW and Melissa Coe, LICSW
Fees: $385.00 membership fee: $195 due prior to first outing, remaining balance of $190 to be paid half way through the sessions. When applicable, parents will also be responsible for activity costs (i.e. admission fees).
Let’s Play!: A Play Group for Young Children
This group is designed for children ages 5 to 7 with Asperger’s Syndrome. The focus will be on teaching children such skills as: how to initiate play with peers, engage in positive interactive play, show flexible thinking and behavior when playing with peers, deal with peer conflict, and deal with losing.
Time: Tuesdays, 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Dates: January 3rd - April 3rd
Clinician: Kelley H. Pistacchio, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Fees: $35.00 per session. Insurance accepted
Superflex Superhero Social Thinking Group!
This group is for children ages 8-10 with Asperger’s Syndrome will follow Michelle Garcia Winner’s “Superflex Superhero” social thinking curriculum, to address common challenges, such as: getting stuck on ideas, being competitive, distractibility, thinking of others, using humor appropriately, determining the size of a problem, and personal space.
Time: Wednesdays, 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Dates: January 11th, 2012 – April 4th, 2012
Clinician: Kristen Acciari, LICSW
Fees: $35.00 per session. Insurance accepted
Middle School Social Group
This group is designed to provide support and assistance to young teens/pre-teens in middle school with Asperger Syndrome or related social needs. The focus will be on teaching children skills associated with establishing friendships such skills as: how to initiate conversation with peers, engage in reciprocal conversation, increase flexible thinking and behavior when interacting with peers, and deal with peer conflict. Different topics will be addressed based on the needs of the group (e.g., dealing with teasing/bullying).
Time: Mondays, 4:00 pm– 5:00 pm
Dates: January 9th – April 16th
Clinician: Kelley H. Pistacchio, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Fees: $35.00 per session. Insurance accepted
Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP)
This program consists of a series of therapeutic-educational tracks designed to meet the specific needs of individuals with Asperger Syndrome (or similar social needs), ages 15 - 18 transitioning to adulthood. Each track includes community outings to foster learning and application of skills learned in session.
- Winter program track: Service Learning Project. The group will learn and apply the skills necessary for teamwork (communication, compromise, time management, planning, breaking big tasks into smaller pieces, working with deadlines, dealing with disappointment, etc.) by working together on a project to give back to a community organization in need.
Time: Fridays, 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Dates: January 13th – May 11th
Clinician: Kristen Acciari, LICSW
Fees: $35.00 per session. Insurance accepted
Young Adult Group
This is a therapeutic group for young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Group members are actively involved in identifying specific areas of need and topics of discussion facilitated by a clinician to promote social and emotional growth. The group focuses on learning about self and others, relating to others, fostering communication, sharing experiences and supporting each other. This group also includes monthly outings to locations chosen by the group.
Time: Thursdays, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Dates: Ongoing: accepting new referrals for January 5th
Clinician: Kristen Acciari, LICSW
Fees: $35.00 per session. Insurance accepted
More information on 2012 Winter/Spring Group Programs
Location: All groups will be held at The Groden Center, 610 Manton Ave., Providence, RI, with the exception of the Activity Club.
Registration: To find out more about any of our programs or to make a referral, please call the CSS Referral and Service Coordinator, Maggie Powers, at 401- 274-6310, ext. 1242 or email mpowers@grodencenter.org. An intake interview will be scheduled with one of our clinicians to determine if the group will meet the needs of the individual. Intake interviews may be covered by insurance. If full capacity is not met for a group, the start date will be postponed or the group will be canceled.
*Accepted insurance: For Dr. Kelley Pistacchio, the following insurance coverage will be accepted: Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, United Behavioral Health, Neighborhood Health Plan and Medicaid. For Kristen Acciari, LICSW, Medicaid, United Behavioral Health, and Neighborhood Health Plan will be accepted. BC/BS anticipated by February, 2012.
