Vista Sands
Children’s needs met through virtual format
Vista Sands staff met the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic head-on, finding ways to meet the needs of the children they serve at the program’s three school sites in Brawley, Calexico and El Centro.
Vista Sands is an Imperial County Behavioral Health socialization program designed for children ages 7-12 that assists children whose capacity to function at home, school and community has been impaired by emotional and behavioral problems. As children age, there are more academic demands in the classroom, and social interaction becomes a crucial part of a child’s development. Referrals may come from parents, school staff or by Imperial County Behavioral Health staff. The program’s success hinges on structure, positive reinforcement of desired behaviors and peer-to-peer learning. A strong working alliance is built between the family, school and Vista Sands staff.
When schools closed classrooms and shifted to virtual, or distance, learning in March 2020, the rehabilitation technicians and specialists who operate Vista Sands began integrating in-person activities into a virtual setting. The online Vista Sands began July 1, 2020, for the summer session.
“Our staff did an amazing job of integrating that transition, of engaging the children and having them come back regularly,” said
Carlos Villegas, Vista Sands program supervisor. “There are lots of things fighting for attention in the home. Virtual behavior modification and engagement were the biggest challenge.”
Under normal circumstances, staff devote several hours weekly reinforcing positive skills and behavior through socialization and structured activities. Virtual sessions added challenging twists.
“We made modifications to regular classroom activities and did virtual outings,” said Behavioral Health Manager Maria Wyatt. “We went Christmas caroling and other things the children haven’t been able to do because of the pandemic.” That included a virtual tour of the Botanical Gardens in San Diego.
“These activities open up interaction and help develop a feeling of community,”
Villegas added.
To help keep participants engaged virtually, staff came up with the “Happy Mail,” with themes tied to holidays or seasonal activities.
“We incorporated what we use for behavioral modification in the program and added incentives that go into the
Happy Mail,” Villegas said. Attendance means an extra item in the Happy Mail, and students can earn “bucks” they can spend on items purchased by Villegas and his staff. Happy Mails were delivered by a community service worker and clerical staff.
As in the classroom, GoNoodle, a social activity that helps with emotional regulation, plays a major role, Wyatt said.
Referrals increased and the Vista Sands had to accommodate this newer way of operating.
The virtual setting also brought confidentiality concerns, so staff developed a system for the children to operate safely in a virtual space.
“We did everything in good faith,” Villegas said. “Parents are responsible for children in the private space, helping them keep headphones on and keeping the confidentiality between all of the participants.”
“Seeing them adjust and learn to cope with changes throughout the pandemic, it has gone really well,” Villegas said. “By the time we have this down it will be time to come back into the classroom. We have been able to match technology with the participation, and we are working on a hybrid of coming back safely.”
What that hybrid will look like isn’t yet known, Wyatt said.
She added: “What we do know is there will still be a Vista Sands.”