Over the past nine years, we’ve cultivated a meaningful partnership with Horace Mann Elementary in Oakland, CA, enabling us to support the school community through an on-site clinician providing school-based clinical services. Last year, we expanded our traditional outpatient clinical model—previously focused on individual and group therapy for students—to include a Student Support Assistant (SSA). The SSA provides behavioral and social-emotional push-in support on campus, working collaboratively with the clinician. This combined approach of individual therapy and in-class behavioral support has proven to be an effective and holistic strategy, earning positive feedback from school staff, students, and families.
This SSA role at Horace Mann is particularly unique in our program, as it bridges support during the school day and in the After School Program. During the day, the SSA offers push-in behavioral support, focusing on challenging transitions and helping students practice coping skills in real-time classroom settings. After school, the SSA facilitates social skills groups for students referred through the school’s Coordination of Services Team (COST). For example, the SSA has successfully led a 4th-grade girls' group centered on self-esteem and establishing healthy boundaries.
This year, the SSA has been provided with her own dedicated space on campus, which she has transformed into a bright, welcoming, and therapeutic environment that the kids love. In this space, she facilitates social skills groups twice a week, daily lunch bunches and provides individualized support to students, helping them de-escalate and practice their coping skills.
Our Seneca team has also deepened its integration into the Horace Mann community over the years. We’ve been honored to participate in school events such as the Community Health Fair and Family Night, where we share mental and behavioral health resources with the school community and families. These opportunities have further strengthened our connection to Horace Mann and reinforced our commitment to providing comprehensive, student-centered support.
This SSA role at Horace Mann is particularly unique in our program, as it bridges support during the school day and in the After School Program. During the day, the SSA offers push-in behavioral support, focusing on challenging transitions and helping students practice coping skills in real-time classroom settings. After school, the SSA facilitates social skills groups for students referred through the school’s Coordination of Services Team (COST). For example, the SSA has successfully led a 4th-grade girls' group centered on self-esteem and establishing healthy boundaries.
This year, the SSA has been provided with her own dedicated space on campus, which she has transformed into a bright, welcoming, and therapeutic environment that the kids love. In this space, she facilitates social skills groups twice a week, daily lunch bunches and provides individualized support to students, helping them de-escalate and practice their coping skills.
Our Seneca team has also deepened its integration into the Horace Mann community over the years. We’ve been honored to participate in school events such as the Community Health Fair and Family Night, where we share mental and behavioral health resources with the school community and families. These opportunities have further strengthened our connection to Horace Mann and reinforced our commitment to providing comprehensive, student-centered support.
Blog By: Tiana Dudley, Director of School Partnerships
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