Inclusion & Belonging
Fostering Social and Emotional Growth to Enable Students to Connect
Humans are social beings, and all of us have a deep-seated need to connect with others and be accepted as a part of a team. Unfortunately, in a traditional school setting and other social settings, students who don’t fit the common mold and who think in unique patterns often feel excluded and isolated. The sense of being disconnected from those around them not only interferes with the ability to learn but can also encourage students to associate learning with anxiety, discomfort, and unhappiness.
We believe the school experience should be just the opposite. School should be an atmosphere of inclusion and belonging where every student is a respected and honored part of the team. At Academics West, we know that our strength comes from our differences and myriad styles of thinking. We celebrate the factors that make each student unique.
Families considering schools for students with mental health issues in NYC need to remember the importance of inclusion and seek a team that understands how to foster a sense of belonging. Students who feel secure and connected are able to put down roots and grow in directions they may not have even dreamed of.
Different Learning Styles
The traditional educational system provides lessons in a single format. Students attuned to understand the format have the opportunity to succeed. But students who learn through different methods get excluded from the learning process.
These students often suffer in silence, thinking there must be something wrong with them. Sometimes they feel stupid and ashamed. Other times, they pretend they don’t care, and they fade into their own world or act out to create a distraction from the pain of their isolation.
When schools for students with mental health issues in NYC accommodate different learning styles, all students are respected. No one is left out. Offering a variety of learning strategies not only enables students to learn in the manner that is most effective for them, but it also embraces all students and draws them in with a common bond.
We feel that every student is a hero on the metaphorical hero’s journey. They each traverse their own unique path to develop their talents so they are ready to emerge strong and prepared for the future. A key to success along the journey is mentor guidance, and our program includes mentor relationships that enable students to connect. Through the mentor relationships, students learn about each other and about themselves.
Each student has exceptional talents, and each requires specialized support throughout their journey. By addressing every student’s unique needs and strengths, we enable them to understand how we are similar in our differences, and how much stronger we can become together.
A Diverse Range of Support
Academics West provides an inclusive, supportive environment for students who struggle in a traditional school for a wide variety of reasons. Emotional and social issues may interfere with the learning process. Learning disabilities may require an approach that a traditional school is not prepared to provide. Many students have trouble with executive functioning that is not diagnosed or addressed properly, and that interrupts learning development and makes it challenging to function in other aspects of life as well.
Schools for students with mental health issues in NYC need to provide a variety of support mechanisms to address the issues that hold students back and disconnect them from the learning process and from each other.
All of our students receive at least five support interventions each week, and support is interwoven into their daily academic schedules so there are no disruptions and no sense of being “singled out” for help. Students understand that everyone needs assistance tailored to how their mind and body function.
Support options include:
- Coaching to develop executive functioning skills
- Individual counseling tailored to individual needs
- Art therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Speech and language development
- Social skills guidance
- Canine therapy
- Personal training
- Group therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Pro-social programming
We continually reassess students to encourage the development of skills and determine where additional interventions may be needed. The support provided according to individual requisites creates a sense of equity and fulfillment that often leaves students feeling empowered in ways they never experienced previously.
Social and Emotional Growth
Schools for students with mental health issues in NYC should prepare students to be responsible adults by encouraging social and emotional growth in an inclusive setting that creates a sense of belonging. Each student is at a different stage in their emotional, academic, and social development, so our team addresses every student’s progress individually. Part of the process of social and emotional growth involves enhancing interactions with others, including building a sense of respect and empathy for others.
While we focus on emotional growth in individual and group settings on campus, we also encourage families to become an active part of the process. We work toward a greater sense of self-awareness, social awareness, self-governance, responsible decision-making, and mature social skills. The social-emotional learning process is incorporated into every student’s learning plan and continues to evolve as students progress.
Our Students Know They Belong
Parents have told us time after time about a joy they thought they would never experience: their student actively looking forward to going to school. At Academics West, we strive to create a welcoming, supportive environment that enables every student to understand that they are a critical part of the time.
We know that when our students feel included, they are excited to learn and eager to participate. When we look at a group of students who have connected and who are working together to achieve greatness, we understand why we founded this school.
We invite you to learn more or book a tour.