Unstuck and On Target!
A group for kids with LD/ADHD to help them be more flexible, well-regulated problem-solvers
Students with LD/ADHD tend to experience challenges with Executive Functions, a set of brain-based abilities that help people control their behavior and reach their goals. These challenges interfere with academic progress as well as social interactions. The Unstuck and On Target! program focuses specifically on four aspects of EF: flexibility, organization, planning and monitoring skills. By increasing these skills, greater school and social success can be achieved.
Purpose and Goal of Program:
The purpose of Unstuck and on Target! is to teach students how to be more flexible, planful and goal-directed. More specifically, it aims to increase the cognitive flexibility, organization, and planning abilities of students with executive dysfunction so that they can more easily shift from topic to topic, task to task, and person to person; consider new ideas, alternative beliefs, or another person’s point of view; and work independently on multi step tasks in the classroom and beyond.
Unstuck and on Target! includes the following goals. The program:
- Teaches what flexibility is through concrete, hands-on experiments with physical and cognitive flexibility, and a specific vocabulary
- Explains why it is important to be flexible. The curriculum provides explicit instruction to students on the benefits of being flexible.
- Teaches students how to be flexible by emphasizing routines and self-regulatory scripts that are continuously practiced and reinforced until they are automatic.
- Teaches what goals are and how to achieve them.
- Teaches students how to cope when being flexible and using goal-directed behavior is hard.
Note: Parents should be aware that general discussion about the various diagnoses and their related challenges may arise during the programs.
This program is for kids aged 8 – 11 years (Grades 3 – 5)
Cost: $800 for the program
(Program fees may be claimed as psychological fees on many private benefit packages. Bursaries may be available.) There is a non-refundable $100 dollar deposit for the program.
Intake Process:
If your child/youth has yet to participate in a social skills program through Foothills Academy, a one-time intake process must be completed before registration.
Please note: the intake process can sometimes take one to two weeks, as we want to ensure that we can meet the needs of all the children/youth in our program. It is ideal to begin the intake process well before you intend to register for programs to ensure availability.
Registration Overview:
After the intake process is complete, you will be sent the registration form package. If your child/youth has already participated in Camp Amicus or Social Skills programs through Foothills Academy, contact our Intake Coordinator (403.270.9400 ext.252) to register your child.
Jana has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary, and is registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers. She has a history of working with children, youth, and families, and is passionate about early intervention, prevention, and meeting children’s social, emotional, and developmental needs. Jana is trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, and the Nurturing Parenting Program Curriculum. She utilizes a trauma-informed and strength-based approach in her social work practice, aimed at mitigating the effects of trauma, strengthening family resilience, increasing natural supports, and building on existing strengths.