Zayden recently graduated from Project SOAR (IBHS), a school-based program offered in the Penncrest School District. His mom, Beth, first got involved with Project SOAR with her oldest son, Sean. "I got involved with SOAR when my oldest son was in first grade and he was having issues," said Beth. "When my second oldest was in kindergarten, we saw the same issues and since we already had knowledge of the SOAR program, they decided to try that before going on to anything more serious."
Children with mental health and behavioral issues often struggle in the school setting without onsite support. Project SOAR provides ongoing assessment throughout the school day, classroom intervention, and counseling to help students stay in school. "It helped him tremendously," said Beth. "He is going into fifth grade, and he is doing phenomenal."
Project SOAR also hosts Family Nights to help transfer skills to caregivers so that they can continue to provide support at home. "It's not just taking care of the kids' needs in school. It also helps the family needs outside of school," said Beth. "That allows the parents to help raise the child, teach the child, and learn with the child about their disabilities. It just brings everything together."
Both Zayden and Sean credit Project SOAR with helping strengthen their relationship. "Project SOAR helped improve my relationship with my family, especially my brother," said Sean. "Even though I'm not in SOAR, I still use the skills that they taught me."
"We are a lot nicer to each other now," said Zayden. "Through Project SOAR, I learned to stop and think, have coping skills, talk to others, and learn to control my anger issues."
Beth credits Project SOAR with helping to improve the family dynamic. "It has definitely brought us all closer together and helps me as a mom even more with my younger kids," she said. "Seeing my older two kids make it and what they are doing, it has helped all the family."
Project SOAR helps children in the Penncrest School District who are experiencing emotional and/or behavioral difficulties in the school settings. To learn more, visit www.FSNWPA.org/Soar.
