29 February 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A program for the Haysville School District is offering therapeutic activities for students with ADHD or related disorders in partnership with KU’s School of Medicine.
The program is called BREATHE, which stands for “Building Relationships and Targeting Healthy Emotions.”
The idea is to help students develop problem-solving and social skills.
“To have this program right here in Haysville, where we don’t have a lot of mental health resources, it’s really crucial in our area. You know we’re a mental health desert down here, and so to work on ADHD here in Haysville is very helpful to our area, to our community, to our school district, and to everyone around,” said USD 261 School-Based Clinic Coordinator Linda Long.
The students will be taught by counselors who have training in behavior and emotional control.
Those in the program will get daily feedback on their progression and receive positive reinforcement if they are having a rough day.
“These kiddos often struggle with academics, but they also struggle with their social relationships and their family relationships, and we wanted to bring this program in to help them learn the skills to be able to function more effectively,” said KU Med, Assoc. Professor Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Nicole Klaus.
Many of the activities will be outside for learning and social interaction, meant to replicate recess or P.E.
“The program is based on outdoor activities and teaching children how to work with their peers, how to follow directions something, how to manage something that happens that they don’t like or that they didn’t want to do, and doing that on a playground and doing it with structured sports activities can really be helpful for them,” said Long.
Parents can also learn how to develop, reinforce and maintain the skills kids are learning with a weekly meeting.
The session starts in June, but applications are open now. There is a $25 fee to register, and the program is scheduled to go from June 3 to July 25. Click here for more details and to apply.