Prevention Support Partners

Overview

We are proud to be founding member of the Central New York Attachment Network. Our network is a collaboration between several not-for-profit agencies that are currently implementing the Circle of Security® Parenting program throughout Central New York.

In addition to organizing the network, we have obtained funding - from the sponsors listed above - to train over 100 professionals in and around Oswego County to become certified Circle of Security Parenting group facilitators. If you are interested in being trained, please contact us.

Program Summary

Circle of Security Parenting is an internationally recognized intervention/prevention program for parents. It's based on the premise that attachment security is one of the most important gifts that parents can give their children. When children trust that their parents will always be there for them, they are on trajectories for happy and healthy lives. COS Parenting gives parents the practical tools they need to be available, responsive, and sensitive caregivers. Parents learn the overall importance of attachment security and how to promote it in their children.

The COS Parenting program is group-based and led by a certified COS Facilitator. Parents participate in 1½-hour group meetings once a week for 8 weeks with at least 5-10 other parents. Each week, a different topic is explored:

• Week 1: Welcome to Circle of Security Parenting
• Week 2: Exploring Our Children’s Needs All the Way Around the Circle
• Week 3: “Being ‘With’ on the Circle”
• Week 4: Being with Infants on the Circle
• Week 5: The Path to Security
• Week 6: Exploring Our Struggles
• Week 7: Rupture and Repair in Relationships
• Week 8: Summary and Celebration

Circle of Security Parenting is meant for all parents: Biological parents, grandparents, adoptive parents, and foster parents can benefit from this program. Many themes discussed in the COS can be applied to a variety of different contexts, and is based on enhancing strengths in a non-judgmental way. It helps parents find their inner strengths to deal effectively with their children. Overall, after graduating from the COS, parents should:

• Better understand their child’s emotions/behaviors and how to help their child manage them
• Better manage tantrums and emotional fits
• Have more cooperation and joy with their child
• Engage in greater perspective taking and reflective functioning

Overview

SOAR’s aim is to promote SOcial-emotional Adjustment and Resilience in children in Oswego County, NY.

This program began in 2013 as a partnership between SUNY Oswego and the Oswego City School District. We are now working exclusively with the Hannibal Central School District. Through this program, college students train to become certified prevention specialists and visit elementary school classrooms to work with children who may be at-risk for developing social and emotional difficulties.

The SOAR program has utilized a variety of evidence-based social-emotional learning curricula, including the Social Skills Group Intervention protocol (SS GRIN). We have recently adopted Second Step® programs help students build social-emotional skills—like nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and setting goals—so they can thrive in school and in life. Using this protocol, students learn about:

• Introducing Yourself Properly • Personal Space • Respect • Consequences/Stop & Think • Good Listening •  Effective Verbal & Nonverbal Communication • Cooperation • Compliment Sharing • Compromise  • Identifying & Managing Emotions

The depth and scope of the SOAR curricular concepts varies and is dependent on the grade level of the elementary students. SOAR seeks to explicitly teach and give direct instruction on such social skills and concepts that the students may otherwise never be exposed to and may not learn through implicitly interacting in their environment with peers. It is through this explicit and direction instruction that we hope to prevent the development of poor social functioning or successfully intervene and aid such initiative such as anti-bullying.

SOAR Internship Information

• What do college students do in SOAR?
  • College students accepted into the SOAR program are first trained to deliver social and emotional skills training using the Second Step® protocol. Second Step® is an evidence-based protocol that is used in many school districts across the nation. After training, college students become intervention/prevention program associates who visit school one to two times per week to deliver the Second Step® program to children.
• What are the SOAR program requirements?
  • Participation in SOAR is a year-long (Fall/Spring semester) commitment. In addition to the initial training, associates will visit classrooms roughly one to two times per week, and will be expected to attend weekly meetings and complete program-related academic assignments. Associates earn a total of three credits (allocated at the end of the Spring semester) once they complete the program. (In the Fall, students will be given an “Incomplete” grade.)
• Who should join SOAR?
  • Students with backgrounds in psychology, human development, education, and communications are encouraged to join SOAR. Other majors are also welcome. Although the project has a minimum GPA requirement, it is imperative the Associates also possess excellent social skills and have the ability to work with children in an open and comfortable way. Associates who participate in this project earn very valuable training in delivering prevention/intervention services to children, which will make them competitive candidates for jobs and graduate school. We also have opportunities for Associates to remain in the program for multiple years.
• Qualifications
  • Students who are interested in joining SOAR must meet the following requirements:
    • Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing
    • Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all coursework; 3.3 GPA or higher preferred
    • Passing grade in PSY320 or HDV322. If these courses have not been taken, they must be taken during participation in SOAR during the Fall semester
    • Willingness to make a full year (Fall/Spring) commitment to the program
  • Students who meet these requirements should apply to join the program. Application forms can be downloaded here and emailed to Dr. Matt Dykas ([email protected]). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and personal interviews will be conducted with candidates who we feel could best meet the program specifications. Questions about SOAR can also be directed to Dr. Dykas.