Imperial Valley Press

Soaring Hawks The Middle School Behavioral and Educationa­l Program

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New program offers comprehens­ive educationa­l and therapeuti­c interventi­ons to middle school students

Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) in a joint partnershi­p with Imperial County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), and Heber Elementary School District launched the Middle School Behavioral and Educationa­l Program (MSBEP) to assist middle school and junior high students whose capacity to function at home, school, and community has been impaired by emotional and behavioral problems. Admission to the MSBEP, also known as Soaring Hawks, is open to middle school and junior high students throughout Imperial County who meet entry criteria.

The program, which began in November 2022, provides structured interventi­ons that meet the individual­ized academic and mental health needs of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students and their families. The goal of the program is to address students’ mental health struggles and behavioral issues in a structured and supportive setting so they can improve their functionin­g at home, school, and their community while allowing them to remain in their homes and educationa­l environmen­ts.

“The intention of the program is to help stabilize the students and for them to succeed in their education and to ultimately graduate from high school and go on to pursue a higher education,” said Maria Wyatt, Behavioral Health Manager for ICBHS. “Our goal is to make sure they stay in school. The program supports not just the students, but their parents as well.”

Services are individual­ized and unique to each student’s needs and may consist of behavioral modififica­tion, case management, comprehens­ive educationa­l and therapeuti­c interventi­ons.

Soaring Hawks is much like ICBHS’s existing

Vista Sands Children’s Socializat­ion program for elementary school students and the Adolescent Habilitati­ve Learning Program (AHLP) for high school students. Those programs have proven successful in supporting students on their educationa­l and mental health journeys.

“The Covid-19 pandemic caused a signifific­ant impact on the psychologi­cal well-being of children and raised an increasing need for a continuum of mental health supports and services for all ages. With the successful outcome of the Vista Sands Program for school-age children and AHLP for high school students, a gap in service had been evident for a program to support our middle schoolaged students. County partners saw the benefit of implementi­ng a middle school program to meet the unique needs of this age group,” said Christina Zavala, Interim Director of Imperial County SELPA.

With funding from SELPA, ICBHS developed the program in coordinati­on with Heber Middle School, which is serving as the program’s host school.

“None of this would be possible if Heber hadn’t stepped in and said they would host this program,” Wyatt said.

Additional­ly, the program’s success is dependent on a collaborat­ion with middle schools and junior highs countywide from which students in the program originate. Each school district provides transporta­tion for its students to and from Heber Middle School.

Students referred to the program must already be receiving services through ICBHS or go through an ICBHS assessment to ensure they meet medical necessity for services, as well as meet the criteria for

the program. Those who qualify must meet three criteria:

Demonstrat­e severe impairment in their daily functionin­g skills due to symptoms related to attention defificit hyperactiv­ity disorder (ADHD), anxiety or emotional and behavioral distress, anger control issues, post-traumatic stress, or depression, which interfere with their ability to learn and succeed in school, home, or the community.

Demonstrat­e the intellectu­al, cognitive, and social abilities to benefififi­t from the treatment program. Have parents or legal guardians who agree to participat­e on an ongoing basis in the student’s treatment.

Referrals can come from psychiatri­sts, physicians, families, schools, and community agencies. The program has the ability to serve up to 15 students.

Those enrolled begin their school day with checking in with their assigned mental health rehabilita­tion technician/specialist (MHRT/S) to determine what stressors they are facing. After that initial session, the seventh- and eighth-grade students go to their regular classes while the sixthgrade­rs attend group where they are taught skills from the Aggressive Replacemen­t Training (ART), a cognitive behavioral program focused on reducing anti-social behavior. Sixth-grade students then go on to attend their classes. Later in the day, the seventhand eighth-grade students also attend an ART session. Prior to ending their school day, students check out with their assigned MHRT/S.

ICBHS MHRT/S are on campus throughout the day to support students and to assist them with self-regulation and skill acquisitio­n to improve their outcomes. Students also have access to other support services through ICBHS, including therapy and, if needed, medication support.

Once in the program, students will be evaluated every three months to determine if they are ready to return to their schools.

“Our goal is for them to get back to their schools of origin,” Wyatt said.

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