YouthCare holds groups throughout the school year focusing on social pragmatic skills that support social success for children. We believe that the skills for social communication can be most effectively taught and learned in small-group, structured, and supportive environments; then the skills can be generalized to other settings.

At each session, skills are presented through explicit instruction, breaking down potentially complex and confusing tasks into more concrete steps. Children have a chance to practice skills through carefully designed activities, such as hands-on projects and role playing. Additionally, our groups may provide some less structured snack and choice times where developing friendships can be nurtured through positive reinforcement and social coaching.

We are currently accepting applications for Social Skill Groups and the Afterschool Program.

Please click on the links below to view more information

Group Descriptions

Social Skill Groups

YouthCare's Social Skills Groups meet for one hour per week on weekday afternoons. Each session includes discussion and practice of one or more target social skills as well as a snack time. Skills to be targeted are decided based on group member's strengths and needs. A typical session is structured as followes: greetings, discussion of the target skill, practice of the target skill through a planned activity (e.g., project, role playing, video analysis, etc.), and a short snack time. Families receive feedback about their children's participation in group throughout the year. As with our other programs, we accept children to groups based on best fit. Groups are offered at our Welllesley and Charlestown sites.

Afterschool Program

This program meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30pm throughout the academic year in our Charlestown site. The program combines social skills groups and supports with a fun, recreational experience. Activities include: social skills groups; music therapy groups; recreational activities including art, science, and cooking; and less structured snack and free choice times, during which social skills and strategies can be practiced. Skills to be targeted during the social skills group and throughout the afterschool time are decided based on group members’ strengths and needs. As with our other programs, we accept children to groups based on best fit.

Curriculum

YouthCare staff design the curriculum of skills presented in each session based on group needs and dynamics. During the intake process, you and a staff member (and the child, if appropriate) will discuss strengths, needs, and goals. Based on this information and the interests and needs of the group, skills to be targeted will be chosen from potential curricular areas, including:

• Listening Skills and Body Language
  • How you show you are listening
  • Interpreting and producing body language
  • Eye contact and eye gaze
• Turn-taking and Play Skills
  • Strategies for choosing who goes first
  • Strategies for waiting your turn
  • Flexibility to different play styles and rules
• Conversational Skills
  • Initiating and ending conversations
  • Choosing an appropriate topic. Staying on topic, but not for too long
  • Eye contact for different types of conversation
  • Formal/school conversation versus unstructured peer conversations
  • How and when to join an ongoing conversation
• Emotions
  • Identifying and regulating emotions
  • Linking emotion to causes and actions
• Self-development
  • Getting to know your style as a social participant
  • Self-monitoring
  • Self-advocacy/assertiveness
• Teasing, Bullying, and Peer Challenges
  • May include sharing, discussing, and brainstorming

Across group sessions, groups may include elements to support:

• Problem Solving
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Theory of Mind
• Executive Function

Children Served

YouthCare groups are designed to address needs of children and teens with social communication challenges. Many of our students have diagnoses including: Asperger's Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, and Nonverbal Learning Disorder. We have groups for children aged 5-16. Groups are formed based on close age range, interests, gender, learning styles, and schedule availability.

Schedule

Groups most often meet in the afterschool hours. During the intake process, we can discuss potential time slots for groups your child might join. Groups begin in the fall and last through the school year.

Location

YouthCare holds groups in our Charlestown and Wellesley sites

Rates

Social Skill Groups: $55 per session
Afterschool Program: $40 per session
Thanks to some grant funding, financial aid may be available for participants in our Charlestown groups. We can discuss this in more detail with you at an intake meeting.

Application Information

Click here for the YouthCare Application Form (pdf). You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download application form. You may also contact the YouthCare office at mghyouthcare@partners.org. After we receive the application we will contact you for an intake interview.

Contact Information

For additional information please contact:
YouthCare, 73 High Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Telephone: (617) 726-0060 / Fax: (617) 726-0064
mghyouthcare@partners.org

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