Connections

Project Harmony’s Connections brings together students, parents, schools and the mental health providers to provide accessible and supportive mental health care for children in participating local school districts.

A Helping Hand for Children

Access to preventative mental health care is necessary for all children. Prevention and early intervention mental health services can be transformative. Children with mental health concerns may experience early warning signs such as acting out, withdrawing, anxiety or depression. These symptoms can negatively impact a student’s progress at school.

The Connections Program at Project Harmony works with 5 local school districts (Omaha Public Schools, Bellevue Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, Papillion La Vista Community Schools and Ralston Public Schools) to provide professional, evidence-based group and individual therapy to students. This collaboration between schools, Project Harmony, therapists, students and caregivers creates a supportive network to address concerns early, before they cause major disruptions to the child or school. Over 80% of the services we provide take place in the school setting, helping to reduce barriers to care such as transportation or access to services.

The Connections Program seeks to:

Increase access to mental health services
Improve well-being outcomes for children in our community
Improve academic performance
Improve school attendance
Improve social and emotional regulation skills

How it works

Referrals to the Connections Program are initiated by staff within participating school districts, including Omaha Public Schools, Bellevue Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, Papillion La Vista Community Schools and Ralston Public Schools.

The referral process begins with a conversation between a school staff member and the child’s caregiver, providing an overview of the program and resources. If the caregiver chooses to participate, the school submits a referral to Project Harmony.

Once a referral is received, the Project Harmony team will connect with the youth’s caregivers to learn more about their unique strengths, needs and circumstances. Together, they identify the therapeutic approach that will best support the child and family. During this process, the Connections team members will also discuss any potential barriers to accessing services, such as transportation, scheduling or other challenges.

Project Harmony’s Mental Health Family Advocates partner closely with the caregivers and school personnel to ensure children are connected to the right services and supports. Their goal is to build on each child’s unique strengths, address concerns and help families overcome barriers to care.

Children referred to Connections have often experienced trauma or are facing social, emotional or behavioral challenges. All Connections team members, including Project Harmony’s network of therapists, are trained in evidence-based practices and committed to providing high-quality, trauma-informed care.

Purpose

Children with behavioral health symptoms – which may be indicative of toxic stress, trauma and exposure to violence – often can be identified early, and if timely, appropriate, and effective services can be offered, a child can get back on track developmentally, function better at home and in the classroom and be safer at home and in the community.

Evidence-Based Modalities

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS)

The CBITS program is a school-based, group and individual intervention. It’s designed to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and behavioral problems and to improve functioning, grades and attendance, peer and parent support and coping skills.

CBITS has been used with students from 5th grade through 12th grade who have witnessed or experienced traumatic life events such as community and school violence, accidents and injuries, physical abuse and domestic violence, and natural and man-made disasters. CBITS uses cognitive-behavioral techniques.

Bounce Back

Bounce Back is a cognitive-behavioral program designed to reduce symptoms of traumatic stress, anxiety, and functional challenges in elementary-aged children (5–11). It supports children who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events, including community or family violence, natural disasters, physical abuse, neglect or separation from a loved one.

The program consists of 10 group sessions focused on learning and practicing coping skills, along with 3 individual sessions that help children process traumatic memories and grief and share their experiences with a caregiver. Children are encouraged to apply these skills between sessions to reinforce learning. Bounce Back also provides resources for parent education, including weekly take-home letters.

Adapted from the Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), Bounce Back includes the same core therapeutic components while incorporating developmentally appropriate activities and increased caregiver involvement for younger students.

Expressive Arts Therapy

Expressive Arts Therapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes various creative modalities such as art, music, dance, drama and writing to facilitate emotional expression and healing. It aims to support individuals in exploring their feelings non-verbally, enhancing self-awareness and promoting personal grow

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a model used for adolescents and adults to address complex and intense symptoms such as suicidal thoughts or behavior, self-injurious actions, severe emotional dysregulation and other mental health symptoms. DPT typically includes individual therapy sessions along with a coping skills group.

What We Do

Work with educators, medical professionals and others to identify children and families in need of mental health services
Develop and support a network of mental health providers
Link children and families to the appropriate mental health and social services at the appropriate time
Evaluate outcomes, ensuring that children and family needs are met and solutions are identified

Testimonials from Parents

“Great program – wish we would have found this sooner!”
“I’ve already told others about this program! It is great and really helpful!”
“Don’t hesitate to reach out! This program has done a lot for our family.”
“Connections is very helpful. It is helpful having a therapist in the school for sessions.”
“This is a very good program and if possible you should continue to offer this program in the schools. It is amazing and if your child is struggling at all this program is worth trying.”
“This is a good program for all children who might need help expressing their feelings.”
“There are people that really care in this world.”

Resources

Connections Brochure
For Schools
For Families
For Families (Spanish)
For Therapists
When Should I Be Concerned
Telemental Health for Clients – What to Expect
Remote Therapeutic Services (English)
Remote Therapeutic Services (Spanish)
Nebraska Department of Education – School Mental Health
National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland

Connections at Project Harmony serves children enrolled in the following school districts:

Omaha Public Schools
Millard Public Schools
Bellevue Public Schools
Papillion Public Schools
Ralston Public Schools

If you are interested in enrolling your child in these school-based services, please contact your child’s school for more information or inquire with your Project Harmony Family Advocate.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Project Harmony for planning and delivering professional development to our 70 counselors, social workers and community counselors. We feel fortunate to have such a valuable resource in our community to partner with.

- Millard Public Schools

Our experience and partnership with Project Harmony/Connections has been fantastic! It is a comfort knowing we have a partner who can connect our students and families with the appropriate resources in times of crisis or trauma.

- Millard Public Schools

We began collaborating with the Project Harmony through their Connections program last year, and we’ve continued the partnership. Connections represents an extremely valuable partnership and an opportunity to provide our students with a bridge to mental health services.

- Papillion La Vista Community Schools

You are part of the solution.

The cycle of abuse does not have to continue, but we can’t end it alone. Anyone has the power to be someone who makes our community a safe place for all children.

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