Announcements

May 23, 2023
Home > Therapeutic Special Education > Brewster Day Program > Clinical & Related Services
Green Chimneys School offers on-site clinical services and therapeutic support from staff professionals who help students develop a sense of understanding and individual uniqueness, as they gain the ability to apply what they learn at Green Chimneys to daily life.
Services are determined by Individual Education Plan (IEP) requirements developed by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) teams, incorporating related services into the day of students as stipulated in the IEP. Home school district CSE teams are responsible for making additional arrangements for students who require additional services beyond what Green Chimneys School can accommodate.
Individual and/or small group social/emotional counseling is provided to all Green Chimneys students by an assigned social worker (the main point person for families) to address specific social/emotional IEP goals and objectives. Social workers are part of the education team and, together with teachers, related service providers and parents, develop specific interventions to meet individual student’s educational needs and document those interventions in an Individual Crisis Management Plan. They also assist with crisis intervention as needed.
Throughout the year, social workers visit classrooms on a rotating basis to conduct social skills group sessions, and many incorporate animal-assisted ecotherapy and activities into their sessions with the students, as appropriate.
Speech/Language intervention addresses the student’s ability to comprehend the information being delivered in the classroom, effectively communicate knowledge gained, and be understood by others. Students who are identified by their districts as requiring language intervention, as indicated by their IEP goals and objectives, are scheduled for services by Green Chimneys clinicians.
Occupational Therapy intervention addresses the student’s ability to fully access the learning environment in the areas of written assignment completion (fine motor skills), organization of materials and workspace, and reacting to the surrounding environment (sensory skills). Students who are identified by their districts as requiring occupational therapy intervention receive these services from the Green Chimneys team of clinicians, as authorized by the IEP. New York State Education Department requires parents to provide Green Chimneys with a physician’s prescription for occupational services before services are scheduled.
The practice of a fair and therapeutic application of behavioral support interventions assures the delivery of a high quality service to our children and their families. Green Chimneys School students are provided with a treatment setting in which all interactions with staff and the environment have a potentially therapeutic value.
Typically, families seek to improve interactions and communication with their child at home. Social Workers are available to speak with you weekly and as needed to keep you informed of progress at school, give you information about your child’s special needs, and help you manage behaviors at home. This does not take the place of family therapy, which is often something we recommend for you and your family, in your community.
Our social workers, therapists, and transition coordinators are available to help you navigate and access the often confusing systems of care – Office of People With Developmental Disabilities; Office of Mental Health; ACCES-VR; Medicaid; Supplemental Security Income – as well as assist with referrals for various supportive services in your communities, such as individual and family therapy, case management, psychiatric services, and similar supports. Learn more about Transition Planning and Community Resources
With the completion of an elaborate new habitat built by Green Chimneys’ woodshop students, the Farm Science classroom was able to welcome Brownie into her new home. Brownie previously lived alone in her cage in the farm and wildlife office, but guinea pigs do best in larger environments. The new habitat allows her to live in a herd as she would in the wild, with many places to hide and ways to practice her skills. Brownie has always been a social creature, and she has taken over the guinea pig herd but is a very peaceful leader.