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Social Skills Training and Behavioral Therapy

The Children and Family Programs (CFP) at Kennesaw State University provides state-of-the-art evidence based treatments for childhood disorders. This includes the most widely diagnosed childhood disorder in the country: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. There are only 3 evidence-based treatments for ADHD: Behavior modification, stimulant medication, or the combination of the first two. The CFP is one of the few centers in the area offering parent training (i.e. behavior modification) that has been shown to work in over 175 research studies.

In addition, the CFP offers inservices, treatment, and prevention services to parents and teachers working with children with other behaviors that put them at risk for behavioral, social, and academic failure. These include children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD). The Children and Family Programs was recently featured in an MDJ article as well as an issue of Cobb in Focus highlighting high quality care in Cobb County. The CFP has also been recognized as a member of the Coalition of Treatment Professionals by the Cobb County School District (CCSD) and we are a Recommended Site by the Prevention Intervention Coalition of Cobb County. 

Services CFP Offers

  • Social Skills training groups (ages 5-12 years old)
  • Work with children and families at risk for academic, social, and behavioral problems
    • Impairments often associated with ADHD, ODD, HFASD
  • Prevention efforts- decrease educational costs (SpEd) from academic underachievement
  • Individual parent training
  • Group/community based parent training
  • Medication Assessments
  • IEP/504 Support services
  • Preventative evidenced based disciplinary strategies and proactive academic supports

Inservices We Offer

  • Behavior Modification
  • Bullying Prevention
  • Social skills training
  • Homework Help
  • Parenting Strategies
    • Parenting strategies for supporting your child and their teacher
    • Skill Building: Parenting strategies for developmental success
  • Introduction to 504/IEP

 

Descriptions of CFP's Services

  • The CFP uses a manualized treatment program to deliver social skills training to children ages 5-12 years old in a group setting. Sessions will include direct instruction, modeling, role-playing, and practice in concepts that may include communication, participation, cooperation, validation, frustration management, conflict resolution, development of group identity, dyadic conversation, entering and ongoing interaction, ignoring negative provocation, and social reinforcement.

    The skills and strategies taught will be monitored and reinforced during group activities. They will develop the social skills, problem-solving skills, and social awareness necessary to enable him or her to get along better with other children. We will assist your child by teaching them appropriate behaviors:

      • to achieve success in classroom situations so as to enhance academic performance and productivity;
      • to follow through with instructions,
      • to comply with adult requests, and to complete tasks that he/she may commonly fail to finish;
      • and to improve their self-esteem by teaching him or her competencies in academic, recreational, and other task-related areas.

    Parents will have the opportunity to sign up for additional parent training where they will learn how to develop, reinforce, and maintain these positive changes.

  • Parents meet individually or work in groups to learn behavior management techniques and solve problems. This program helps parents promote positive changes in their children’s home and school behavior.

  • We tailor sessions to meet the needs of your child and your family.

  • We can work with your child’s prescribing physician to track changes in behavior in order to more accurately monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

  • We offer consultation meetings with a child’s school staff and parents to develop individualized treatment program to manage problematic behaviors and improve academic performance.

Parent Testimonials

Thank you for the sessions, we have learned so much as parents. We have a lot to work on, but I believe in this process! With consistency, I know we can be happier family

Mother of an 8-year-old boy

Working with Dr. Garefino has been a true blessing.

Mother of a 7-year-old boy 

I am overwhelmed by how hard Dr. Garefino is willing to work for my family.

Mother of an 8-year-old boy