School-Based Services

Our school-based services cater to school professionals seeking an increased understanding of a student’s social communication challenges. This types of consultations will implement strategies and accommodations that will serve students in the classroom setting. Available to both SMart Center patients and non-patients.

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School Consultation

SMart Center’s School Consultation is designed to aid school professionals working with a student with selective mutism, social anxiety, and/or extreme shyness.  This service is available to patients and non-patients and includes:
  • Review of SM School Evaluation form(s) submitted by up to 2 teachers/school professionals and review of current 504 Plan/IEP if applicable*
  • Overview of Selective Mutism as a social communication anxiety and Social Communication Bridge
  • Discuss student’s baseline stage of communication, “WHYs” of SM, and presenting challenges
  • Implementation of best strategies and interventions
  • If academic challenges exist, discuss possible relationship to student’s SM and recommendations
  • Question and Answer opportunity
  • Comprehensive written report outlining best accommodations/interventions and strategies (can inform a 504/IEP plan if applicable) plus relevant supporting handouts/articles
Cadence: Initial school consult is 1-hour then followed by 30-minute or 1-hour consults every 4-8 weeks, or as needed. If the student’s communication is not improving after 10-15 consecutive school days, a sooner consult is needed.
Method: Conducted by phone or via Microsoft Teams (HIPAA compliant).

On-Site School Observation & Training

Overview: A trained clinician will observe a child with social communication challenges in their classroom setting then meet with school personnel to discuss findings and suggest school-based accommodations and interventions.

  • Note: service is not meant to replace an initial in-person evaluation of a child/student.  At no time is a medical or psychological diagnosis made or confirmed nor are recommendations supplied for outside of the school environment.

Details: Our clinician will spend approximately one hour observing the student in their classroom setting and approximately one hour discussing findings, recommendations, and answering questions with school team.

  • Note: service is available for a current patients of the SMart Center as a 2-hour training. In this case, observation time is either optional or required based on clinician recommendation.

This service includes:

  • Pre-appointment clinical review of SMart Center assessment forms from school and parents
  • A clinical report post-session.

Service is available in parts of PA, NJ, NY, MD, & DE.

General Training Opportunities

Overview: This seminar will provide a general education for school professionals looking to better understand and assist children with selective mutism. This training can be adapted for in-person or web-conferencing formats in various lengths of time (one hour, half day, whole day).

Details: Attendees will learn:

  • What behaviors are indicative of selective mutism
  • How Dr. Shipon-Blum’s evidenced based S-CAT® treatment approach can help
  • What interventions can be used to promote communication within the school setting.

We will also discuss topics such as, contributing factors to a child’s development of selective mutism; how to evaluate a mute child, and school accommodations/interventions (504/IEP). Time will also be provided to answer questions.

In-person trainings: for schools in parts of PA, NJ, NY, MD, & DE.