Our Services in Detail

Social Skills Training Groups

Our structured training groups for 6-8 children per group are two hours in length and are specifically designed for children with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The groups are structured with typical, interactive activities that children can engage in together. These activities simultaneously facilitate work on social language, social problem solving, and basic social interaction skills. The groups are designed for children at three age groups (5-9, 10-13, & 14-16 years) and at two levels of functioning:

Group A

For children who need more support with language and basic interaction skills such as turn-taking, greeting, and engaging in simple inside and outside games with peer.

Group B

is for children who need help with using their language in a pragmatic way with their peers, such as sharing personal information and engaging in conversational exchange. In addition, both levels of groups will support children in how to better deal with social challenges such as losing a game, initiating play or dealing with difficult feelings. Children in Group B are most likely to have a diagnosis of High Functioning Autism or Aspergers Disorder.

Fee

The Social Skills Training groups require a three month commitment and can be purchased for one or two days per week. Group A meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Group B meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. The cost is dependent on the level of staffing support:

1:1 support: $80 per group
1:2 support: $68 per group

Insurance Reimbursement

The STAR Program currently has a contract with TriCare and is in the process of finalizing a contract with Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross. In order to determine if your medical insurance will cover your child’s participation in this type of group therapy you will need to provide us with a copy of your insurance card and complete the Insurance Benefits Questionnaire with one of our administrative staff on the phone. We can then determine if your benefits can be used to pay for this service.

Assessment Fees for Social Skills Training Groups

Due to the need to organize children into groups with peers who have similar levels of functioning and with similar training needs, a comprehensive assessment is completed prior to new children entering a group. The Assessment involves 6 hours and includes an intake interview with the parent, a social and language evaluation with the child, several parent survey instruments, and a review of collateral information and a written summary of the results. The Assessment is completed at a cost of $300.00. The final report enables the STAR Program to place your child in the group that best matches his/her training needs and to establish training goals. This report can also be used to share with school staff or other agency staff who work with your child to establish their needs for social skills training and support.

Behavior Coaching

The STAR Program also provides Behavior Coaches to work with your child in the community in almost any social setting on a variety of social skills. Our Behavior Coaches have experience teaching social skills, managing difficult behaviors and using behavioral strategies for prompting and providing incentives for engaging in new behaviors in familiar and unfamiliar settings.

Fee1:1 Behavior Coaching: $50 per hour

Assessment Fees for Behavior Coaching

Prior to assigning a Behavior Coach for your child, an Intake Interview with the parent and an observation session with the child need to be completed. A written Social Skills Community Training Plan will then be developed and a contract for the period of behavioral coaching will be developed. This assessment involves 4 hours of time and will cost $200.00.

Group Interactive Yoga

The STAR Program, in conjunction with our new Center for Mind and Body Wellness, provides small group interactive yoga classes for children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. These classes are offered by Certified Yoga Teachers with experience offering interactive yoga classes to ASD children. The classes are offered after school and on Saturdays and are 1 hour in length in a series of 6 weeks for groups of 6-8 children. The groups are staffed with Behavior Aides at a 1-2 staffing ratio to support the children to practice the breathing, yoga and social interaction with their peers.

Fee 1:2 Staffing Support: $35 per session and $210.00 for the series

Assessment Fees for Group Interactive Yoga

Prior to assigning your child to an interactive yoga class an Intake Interview with the parent needs to be completed and a meeting with the child to determine his/her readiness to participate in yoga and social interaction in a small group. Prior to the Intake Interview parents will be asked to complete a brief Interactive Yoga Application Form and some questionnaires that describe your child’s cognitive and behavioral strengths and challenges. This assessment involves 2-3 hours of time and will cost $100-150. If your child has already participated in a STAR yoga group the assessment will only involve completing the Application Form and registering for a class at no cost to the parent.