School is exciting for most children. However, anticipating a new grade, a new classroom, a new teacher, making friends, facing bullies, feeling “uncool” or coping with academic pressures can fuel anxiety, even dread. This anxiety may be experienced through such symptoms as headaches, stomachaches, sleep difficulties, and even school refusal. The School Refusal Program (SRP) provides evaluation and Cognitive Behavioral interventions for school refusing students between the ages of 5 to 18.
Goals of The School Refusal Program:
Increase collaborative efforts between student, parent, and school during school refusal episodes.
Decrease tardiness and absenteeism resulting in improved academic performance, social interactions, and family relationships.
Reach students who are academically, socially, and emotionally struggling who have chosen school refusal as a way of managing their struggles. The intention of The School Refusal Program is not to be a punitive or "policing" program. Rather, the goal is to provide consistent, collaborative, and supportive interventions such that the student is fully responsible for his/her participation in the program and school attendance.
The school refusal program is a collaborative effort among students, parents, and educators to ensure academic, social, and emotional success for students.
The School Refusal Program targets the following:
Negotiations about school attendance between student, parent, and school. The SRP will assist students with self-advocating rather than presenting with school refusal behaviors. The SRP will also assist parents and school manage negotiations by remaining consistent, calm, and connected to the student.
Tardy or absenteeism prior to or during school. The SRP will address the protocol for the student, parent, and school when a student is tardy or absent.
Pattern of physical complaints (headaches, stomachaches, nausea, etc) prior to or during school which result in tardiness or absenteeism. The SRP will assist the student, parents, and school with a protocol to determine if the physical complaints warrant tardy or absenteeism.
How to handle missed or incomplete school work due to student being tardy or absent. The SRP will assist in determining a protocol for missed or incomplete school work due to school refusal behaviors.
What are the benefits of participating in The School Refusal Program?
Some common traditional ways parents, educators, and mental health professionals have tried:
Increasing the student's self-esteem in the classroom.
Teaching the student to "relax" so they can cope with an situation at school that makes them upset.
Forcing the student to go to school.
Negotiating a solution to the school refusal problem among family members.
In general, these interventions work for the short term but do not have long term success.
"why aren't you going to school today?"..... "I don't know"..... with the school refusal program there is no more guesswork!
The School Refusal Program: A New Model for Addressing School Refusal Behaviors
The SRP will identify specific reasons for School Refusal Behavior. The SRP takes the guess work out of the school refusal behaviors.
The SRP will provide specific protocols for student, parents, and school depending on specific reasons for school refusal behaviors.
The student is highly responsible for advocating for self and is expected to be an active participant
Parents and Educators become less of a facilitator by modeling expectations.
Natural consequences always win out when the student refuses to participate in the program.
By participating in The School Refusal Program, you are identifying the specific reasons and establishing Cognitive Behavioral interventions for school refusal behaviors. This is a big win for students, parents, and educators as it gives all more control of school refusal behaviors!
The School Refusal Program Details
School attendance and performance will be monitored daily by The SRP. The student and/or parent will notify the therapist each day the student refuses school. The therapist will provide therapeutic intervention by phone, video, or in person on the morning the student refuses school.
The therapist will coordinate plan with student, parent, and school on the day the student refuses school.
A school meeting including the therapist, student, parent, and school will be held to discuss the student’s attendance history, academic, and social struggles prior to admission to The SRP. Discussion will also include a school plan to coordinate interventions for future school refusal behaviors.
The student will attend at least one therapy session per week outside school refusal sessions.
The student will remain in The SRP until successfully attending and participating in at least 60 consecutive school days.
The therapist will remain in contact and coordinate interventions with student, parent, and school as needed.
If you’re interested in getting your child started in the School Refusal Program, please complete the contact form below and we’ll be in touch.
Integrating the School Refusal Program into Schools
We are committed to supporting students who experience school refusal by integrating the School Refusal Program directly into schools. Through strong partnerships with schools, our goal is to create more efficient and effective collaboration among students, families, and school staff.
Embedding the SRP within schools allows for:
Early and Timely Identification of students exhibiting school refusal behaviors. Students can be identified and supported quickly, minimizing prolonged absence.
Streamlined Comprehensive Assessment by licensed mental health professionals familiar with school refusal behaviors.
Collaborative Intervention Planning facilitates a team-based approach between school staff, clinicians, and families.
Ongoing Support and Monitoring to ensure sustained school attendance and engagement, reducing strain on school resources.
This school-based approach ensures that intervention is accessible, coordinated, and responsive, reducing delays in support and improving outcomes for students. By working together, we can help every student feel safe, supported, and successful at school and school.
The School Refusal Program will include:
On-site Licensed Mental Health Therapist: To consult with school staff and student intervention during school refusal.
Referral Pathways: School counselors can refer students to the SRP using a clear criteria-based system
Individual Student Support: Assessment and intervention plans developed collaboratively with student, school staff, and parents.
Parent Support Sessions: On-site, virtual, or in home. Parent educational trainings in managing school refusal.
Professional Development: Training for teachers in managing school refusal
Progress Monitoring: Data collection and reporting on attendance, engagement, and wellbeing
These are the roles and responsibilities of the school based School Refusal Program::
School Staff: Identify and refer students, participate in case meetings, support reintegration plans
SRP Therapist: Conduct assessments, provide therapeutic intervention, liaise with school and family
Parents/Guardians: Participate in support sessions, implement home strategies, collaborate with school
Student:Engage in sessions, participate in planning, practice coping skills
By integrating SRP into schools, we expect to achieve:
Increased school attendance and re-engagement
Improved student emotional regulation and coping
Greater parent confidence and involvement
Enhanced staff capacity to manage school refusal
Reduced long-term absenteeism
We are seeking school partnerships to embed the School Refusal Program directly into schools . If your school is interested in discussing partnership opportunities, please complete the information below and we’ll schedule a meeting to discuss.