Social Development Groups
F.A.C.E.S. social development groups target social skills in children 2-18 years of age. Typically children learn appropriate social skills through their day-to-day interactions. Children on the autism/aspergers spectrum often do not learn social skills from natural interactions. Individuals with social cognitive deficits often require specific instruction and role-play practice to acquire the skills necessary for them to gain the most out of school, home and community environments.
Our social development services incorporate many strategies and curriculum. Primary influences and curriculum used:
v M.G. Winner’s Social Thinking © (Laura Martinez director of the Social Learning Program has certificate of completion for M.G. Winner’s mentor program)
v CIRCLES: Intimacy & Relationships ©
v C. Grays’ Conversational Comic Strips ©
v Jeanette McAfee, M.D. Navigating the Social World ©
v Dr. Tony Attwood
Social Butterflies
The Social Butterflies program is designed for preschool age children who have beginning language skills and emerging play skills.
Language can move quickly in preschool and other recreational settings. Children who have language or cognitive delays need to develop observational skills to read the environment and pick up clues regarding the expectations.
The Social Butterflies program provides a structured play based learning environment for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The program focuses on building the skills necessary for success in social and preschool settings. Through the use of structured intervention during play, students develop interactive play skills, pragmatic language, imaginative play, and early cause and effect thinking.
During the winter semester, Social Butterflies will address various skills needed to work successfully in a group, such as referencing the environment, requesting assistance, transitioning, flexibility, imaginative play, and attending to a group dynamic.
Social Learners
The Social Learners program is designed for school age students (elementary through high school) with social cognitive deficits.
The Social Learners program focuses on understanding the complexities of the social world across environments and relationships by not only learning the skills necessary for perspective taking, but learning why these skills are necessary. It is important for students to understand how these skills allow them to navigate the complex social world and the positive effect it will have in their lives.
Problem solving and perspective taking strategies are practiced to help students understand the complex cause and effect relationship their behaviors (positive and negative) have on their environment. Coping strategies are taught to help students self-monitor their physical and emotional reactions during undesired activities at school, home or in the community.
Information & Enrollment
E-mail Laura Martinez at socialdevelopment@facesforkids.org or call 650-595-9555 ext 115 to set up an initial meeting or find out more information about our social development programs.
Students will be placed into groups by age and current level of focus and need. Groups are designed to have 3-4 children in them but may be as small as two, dependent on appropriate placement.
Fees
Sessions last 60 minutes (50 minute group session and 10 minute parent update) and run for 12 sessions. Sessions are charged at $95.00 for the hour if paid month by month. For families who choose to pay for the 12 session block with one payment, the hourly rate is $90.00. Payments are due on the first of the month.
Groups run weekly excluding office holidays (the week between Christmas and New Years) and for the national holidays (Labor Day, 2 days for Thanksgiving, President’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day). Applicants must make every effort to attend on a weekly basis. Over the course of the 12 sessions you will have 2 excused absences for any reason. You can transfer this credit to the next 12 week sessions.
On the rare occasion that everyone is absent from the group except for one child, we will still hold the session, but it will be an individual session to focus on your child’s specific needs the therapist has been observing. We will not call families to let them know that the child will have an individual session, as we don’t often hear about absences until the last minute. Parents are welcome to attend the 1:1 session and use this time as a parent student training.
