Bobby, a 16-year-old student with an intellectual disability, was struggling in school. He had also recently lost his housing due to a house fire, and this caused a significant amount of grief, worry, and sometimes even anger. Bobby’s school counselor noticed he was yelling, refusing to engage in class activities, and leaving class without permission. She recognized his trauma and the need for support, and through the Consortium grant, Bobby was referred to SHIP of Frederick County.
Upon referral, he was paired with a case manager trained in motivational interviewing and behavior regulation strategies. The case manager did an assessment with Bobby and together they worked on a plan for Bobby to receive 1: 1 case management services in school. Bobby was amenable to services and attended case management regularly. He also set some goals, such as learning his mom’s phone number in case of an emergency. Bobby continued in case management through the school year, but his support didn’t stop there.
Over the summer, Bobby attended the New Horizons Summer Academy and continued to work with his case manager every day. The case manager introduced connect-the-dots puzzles to help with sustained focus and a sticker book about airplanes to reinforce positive behaviors. She also taught Bobby to rate his feelings on a scale of 1–10. With time, Bobby learned to verbalize his emotions instead of acting out, saying things like, “I’m at a 7 right now, I need a break,” and requesting to look at his sticker book instead of running from the classroom. Once Bobby was calm and feeling himself, the case manager used flash cards to teach Bobby his mom’s phone number. A calm mind and heart were all Bobby needed to focus on learning.
After summer break, Bobby’s teachers reported on a followup assessemnt. They observed a notable decrease in classroom disruptions and an increase in his ability to stay engaged. Bobby is also proud to share that his “sticker airplane is finished,” a symbol of the self-control and confidence he built with support from the Consortium grant. He has also memorized his mom’s phone number, a significant life skill related to safety and connection.