Students are referred to the emotional support program because their emotional and behavioral needs interfere with their ability to successfully benefit from academic instruction. CAIU schools provide a school environment that fosters the development of appropriate social skills including conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, decision making, and anger and stress management. Instruction in CAIU schools is designed to meet individual needs of the learner and enhance the development of positive coping and interpersonal skills.
Programs Features May Include:
- Individual and small group instruction
- Low student to staff ratio
- Structured classroom environments
- Opportunities for adventure based experiences
- Opportunities for community based instruction
- Positive behavioral support plans
- Social skills instruction
- Vocational education opportunities for work experience and job coaching
- Inter-agency collaboration and planning
- Related services
A consultative level of itinerant emotional support may be provided to the IST or Student/Child Study Process. It may include the following:
- Observation of the student in different school settings.
- Participation in the IST or Student/Child Study meeting.
- Recommending and demonstrating behavioral support techniques and recommending instructional materials.
- Acting as a liaison between the parent, school, and outside agencies if recommended by the IST or Child Study Team.
- Providing follow-up observations of the student in different settings if deemed necessary.
- Participation in the IST or Student/Child Study Team review of student progress.
Supportive intervention is a special education level of intervention that provides instructional support by the itinerant emotional support teacher. This support includes recommendations to the regular education teacher for modifications to the regular instructional program and individualization of the exceptional student's instruction in the regular classroom. A psychiatric evaluation is not required.
Supplemental intervention is provided by the itinerant emotional support teacher to eligible students either in or out of the assigned classroom for part of the school day. A multidisciplinary evaluation, IEP, and NOREP are required. A psychiatric evaluation is not required.
Center-Based Emotional Support Program Profile