The students in the STEP program require social/emotional programming per their IEPs. Group Counseling is a component of the STEP program; however the space is not conducive to creating a relaxing, safe environment to facilitate counseling sessions. This project will increase the social-emotional well-being of students in the STEP program at Newton South by funding resources to enhance the physical environment, as well as creating the curriculum for the group counseling sessions.
The project will be implemented by having resources to plan and to facilitate the STEP group counseling curriculum, and by purchasing furniture/decor to create a cohesive, relaxing and safe group counseling environment. The project will be implemented by using a variety of counseling books/workbooks, art supplies, technology, furniture/posters to engage students in learning social emotional concepts to increase their overall social emotional functioning and to reach their academic aptitude.