An agreement between the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and the Child and Family Centre will see a qualified child and youth treatment worker assist students with emotional and behaviourial problems at St. David’s and Pius XII elementary schools.

During the first Board meeting of the new school year, Trustees voted in favour of continuing with the project that was piloted last year at St. David elementary school. “Their decision will now be presented to the Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee,” said Michael Csinos, Superintendent of Education for the Catholic Board. “This type of program will serve to enhance our Special Education Plan, “continued Csinos. “as it provides a framework for teachers to work within when dealing with students displaying aberrant behaviour.”

The Board is hopeful that the Early Intervention Behaviour Program will be incorporated into the Special Education Plan. Csinos stated that, “Last year, the pilot program worked very well with the children and parents at St. David school involving 25 families and 51 students who were actively involved in the project. This September, school personnel, including principals, teachers and Special Education teachers at St. David and Pius XII, will work with the Child and Family Centre to create plans designed to fit the individual needs of students.” The Early Intervention Behaviour program focuses on students’ social skills, peer mediation, problem-solving skills, anger management and family work. Students and their families participate in the program on a volunteer basis. The treatment worker’s time will be equally divided between the two schools and children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 from September 2002 to June 2003.