Start Right Social Skills

Start Right Social Skills is an early intervention program for children in kindergarten who are having difficulty adjusting to the everyday demands of their regular classroom. The program is offered in partnership with the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, and it is available in over 20 schools across Toronto.

The 12-week program provides special “play and learn” sessions during school hours in groups of three to five children. By providing structured opportunities for healthy social, emotional and behavioural learning, children develop the confidence and skills to deal more effectively with challenges in the classroom, playground and at home. The primary program goal is to improve the social skills and future performance of young children identified as at risk for mental health problems. The program also incorporates SNAP® (Stop Now and Plan), CDI’s self-control and problem solving model, to address early behavioural issues.

Children are referred to this program by teachers and other school staff.

Day Treatment Program

Child Development Institute’s Day Treatment Program (Section 23), in partnership with the TDSB/TCDSB, provides three therapeutically based treatment classrooms for students in JK to Grade 3 with significant emotional, social and behavioural challenges who are unable to manage in their mainstream community schools. The Day Treatment Program utilizes a multi-disciplinary team structure that includes special education teachers, child and youth workers, an educational assistant, a family counsellor, a psychologist, and access to a consulting psychiatrist as well as collaboration with other professionals as needed. Using evidence-based treatment methods as well as a strength-based and goaloriented approach, students learn self-regulation, how to identify, regulate and express their emotions, make pro-social choices, enhanced awareness of themselves and others, acquire general knowledge and development of problem solving, social and school readiness skills.

SNAP® for Schools

SNAP® for Schools (SNAP®-S) is based on SNAP®, CDI’s award-winning early intervention model. This leading evidence-based program is delivered to students ages 6-11, focusing on developing SNAP skills to promote a positive change in behaviour. The 13-week in-class program covers topics such as managing anger, handling group/peer pressure and dealing with bullying. The program also offers individual interventions for identified students, while the rest of the class benefitsfrom the universalskillslearned in the SNAP classroom sessions.