Health and Behavioral Services
The health and behavioral services team is made up of three distinct clinical disciplines: physical health, mental health, and behavioral health. Combing these disciplines into one department allows for full collaboration to address all of the student’s individual needs as well as increased opportunities to integrate services into the natural environment.
Clinical Services provides comprehensive Mental Health services to students and their families. Licensed Master’s Level Clinicians (LICSW, LCSW, and LMHC), Consulting Psychiatrist, and Clinical Interns work closely together to meet the needs of our students who are dually diagnosed with cognitive impairment and mental health concerns. Our interventions are trauma informed, individualized, and tailored to the complex profiles that Cardinal Cushing students present. These services can include and are not limited to: Individual and Group Therapy, Psychoeducation, Social Skills Assessment and Training, Psychopharmacology, and Sexuality and Puberty Education and Skills Training.
Medical (24 hour nursing)
In order to meet the complex medical needs of our diverse students on a continuing basis, Health Services employs a variety of medical professionals, including a team of registered nurses, a part-time nurse practitioner who is available for consultations as needed, and a registered dietitian. Additionally, the school contracts with a medical doctor who serves as the school’s medical director, and a dermatologist that volunteers his time on an as needed basis.
The Health Center team works very closely with each student’s larger team to address all health-related questions that may impact the student’s health and well-being. The Health Services Department is also available to discuss concerns with families and other medical professionals as needed.
Behavioral Services operates using a consultative model with Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) providing support to the students across environments. A specially trained support team is also available to provide additional assistance and crisis management when needed. Based on the principals of Applied Behavior Analysis, the team strives to support the students we serve in improving socially significant behaviors. Socially significant behaviors include communication, social skills, academics, adaptive living skills such as, toileting, dressing, eating, personal self-care, domestic skills, and work skills. This can also include decreasing behaviors of concern through a focus on functionally equivalent adaptive behaviors.
