YouthCare Transitions: TV Dinner Group
The TV Dinner Group offers teens an opportunity to learn valuable social communication and perspective-taking skills through viewing and discussion of current television shows and participation in other engaging group activities.
We are currently accepting applications for the Tuesday Evening TV Dinner Group
Please click on the links below to view more information
Program Description
The TV Dinner Group meets weekly for ninety minutes. At each session, teens have the opportunity to break down complex social communication occurring in popular sitcoms and dramas as a method for learning about and developing new skills. Teens also eat a group meal together and engage in other board games, card games, and group activities designed to support development of self awareness, executive function, life and social thinking skills. The curriculum presented in each session is based on group needs and dynamics. Staff consider the strengths, needs, goals, and interests of each group member when selecting skills to be targeted at each session. Example curricular areas include:
- Expectations of being in a group
- Using language to impact others thoughts and feelings
- Communicating without speaking
- Small talk
- Self-awareness and self-monitoring in a group
- Levels of friendship
- Flirting and dating
- Teasing, bullying, and peer challenges
- Unwritten rules of daily life
- Group problem solving
- Giving, receiving, and using feedback
- Job interview skills
- Workplace communication
- College 101
Program Goals
Transitions: TV Dinner Group for Teens was developed to meet the needs of adolescents as they develop into responsible and independent young adults at home, at work, and in the community. The group focuses on development of self-awareness, social thinking, executive function, and life skills. Its goals include:
- To give teens a fun filled experience in a structured supportive setting.
- To help teens develop daily living competencies.
- To give teens a forum for discussing anxieties and challenges of transitioning to young adult life.
- To provide direct feedback to teens about the use of communication, organizational, and social skills.
- To increase teens’ social and problem-solving skills through hands-on activities.
- To create an age-appropriate environment that supports a sense of empowerment, in which self-monitoring and self-advocacy can be discussed and practiced.
- To be responsive to feedback provided by teen participants and their families about their needs.
Teen Participants
TV Dinner Group is designed for adolescents aged 13-17. Typically, our participants have diagnoses including Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, or Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and have had success being supported through direct instruction. Additionally, teen participants should be interested in learning new skills and motivated to become more independent.
Schedule
Tuesday, February 2 – Tuesday, May 25, 2010
(closed February 16th and April 20th)
TV Dinner Group runs from 6:30-8:00pm
Location
The program is based out of our office in Wellesley Hills, MA.
Wellesley Office: 47A River Street, Suite A200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02841
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Program Staff
The TV Dinner Group is run by Kelley Challen-Wittmer, Ed.M., C.A.S., Director of Teen Programs. All YouthCare programs are overseen by Dr. Scott McLeod, Executive Director and Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Application and Tuition Fees
Application Procedure: Teens and families may submit an application directly or can be referred by human service providers. Once application materials are received, they are reviewed for potential fit with the program. While spaces are available, applicants who may be a good fit are scheduled for an interview.
Application Fee: A $55 non-refundable fee is required at time of application.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted beginning in November and on a rolling admissions basis. Space is limited.
Tuition: $75.00 per session (15 sessions in total).
Payment Policy: Payment for the full program, $1125.00, is due one week prior to the program start date. A payment plan option consisting of three payments of $385.00 is available as follows: The first installment is due January 26th, one week before the program start date. The remaining two payments are due March 16th and May 4th. Please note that an administrative fee is included in the payment plan.
Application Form: To apply, the following forms need to be submitted:
Applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis.
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Contact Information
For additional information please contact:
YouthCare, 73 High Street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Telephone: (617) 726-0060
Fax: (617) 726-0064
mghyouthcare@partners.org
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