The overarching goal of ClubTalk is to meet the mental health needs of the children and teens who attend the Boys & Girls Club afterschool program.

ClubTalk will protect kids who are struggling with difficult issues and those around them from potential crises and the sometimes-devastating consequences they can generate. Each encounter between a child and/or a teen and the ClubTalk Counselor will potentially ameliorate a serious problem. The wraparound 24/7 Kids In Crisis services that ClubTalk opens up to BGC kids and families will help ensure that they can access expert and comprehensive help any time they need it.

ClubTalk at the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford will comprise, at minimum:

Full-time - Ten (10) Months per year, on-site Crisis Prevention/Intervention counseling from a Kids In Crisis (KIC) Master's level Clinician, who will provide:

Confidential individual counseling to youth (ages 5-9) struggling with: anxiety, depression, bullying, family conflict, parent/self-substance use, academic failure, immigration/cultural issues, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, grief/loss, juvenile justice involvement, gender identity/sexual orientation questioning, lack of basic needs
Confidential family counseling as needed to address youth needs
Referrals and collaboration with specialized service providers and Stamford Public Schools Mental Health staff
Collaboration w/BGC staff to provide optimal strength-based programming to promote positive youth development assets for each child and to support staff needs
Wraparound 24/7 support to youth/families through KIC's Crisis Helpline, In-Person Crisis Meetings, and comprehensive Emergency Shelter Program
SafeTalk: age-appropriate, interactive assault/bullying prevention program for elementary school-age kids, which teaches that everyone is entitled to live "Safe, Strong and Free," and how to recognize and protect themselves from danger
Gender-specific adolescent and topic support groups providing a confidential, trusting environment to explore relevant personal and general issues with peers

KIC will provide all clinical supervision and program evaluation.

The ClubTalk Counselor will collaborate closely with:

BGC staff, to identify at-risk kids/families, get to know them and build trust, and share strategies for consistent, effective approaches. In addition, to provide any needed personal support to staff.
KIC's 24/7 Crisis Helpline staff, to prepare them for potential calls re: at-risk kids when the BGC is closed and information sharing
KIC's Emergency Shelter Program staff, for any BGC member who requires shelter care.
Families, school staff, police, other providers who serve the BGC kids with whom s/he is working, or who refer youth to ClubTalk and strengthen the collaboration of work.

The general and most compelling expected outcome of ClubTalk is BGC kids' improved functioning and wellbeing. Some specific expected outcomes include:

Increasing kids' willingness to share "hidden" issues (e.g., abuse, neglect, food insecurity, deportation fears, substance use, family conflict, illiteracy, suicidal ideation, self-harm, gender/sexual identity, etc.)
Decreasing kids' aggressive and self-destructive behaviors and thinking. A specific ancillary outcome will be decreased suspensions from BGC due to aggressive behavior, which BGC staff readily admit are often due to emotional issues.
Improving kids' coping skills and self-esteem
Increasing BGC staff's competency re: identifying youth mental health problems and referring appropriately.

Many kids who use the BGC refer to it as their second home. ClubTalk will become an extension of the trusting mentoring relationships kids have with BGC staff, enhancing the scope and quality of BGC programming in order to help kids who need to gain coping skills, build resiliency, improve self-confidence, peer, and family relationships, and connect to resources. ClubTalk will be a safe, judgment-free and productive landing place for kids' mental health needs.

Bilingual Spanish Speaking Strongly Preferred

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