Behavioral Health Services

Once Behavioral Health receives the signed Student Service Request (SSR), a school psychologist is assigned to collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team, either with the home school team or other BOCES related service providers. Based on the unique requested referral, assessment may include cognitive functioning, academic achievement, social-emotional-behavioral, and adaptive functioning rating scales. Types of evaluations include:

• Comprehensive initial or re-evaluation evaluations
• Evaluations in one area of a re-evaluation
• Bi-lingual evaluations

School social workers and school psychologists have the trained skillset to work with a variety of student referral needs. Our providers work to develop relationships with the home school setting, offering individual counseling and consultation with school teams to most effectively meet the social-emotional needs for the referred student. Additionally, with consultation with the Coordinator of Behavioral Health, consultation and in-service presentations with school-based teams and families is available. 

FLECS service is a compliment to the support school-based teams provide. Providers utilize a strength-based model, offering confidential counseling when a student’s success in school is enhanced by additional family involvement. The goal is to develop family system interventions for use in the school setting, collaborating with all parties involved, to include school, family, and community agencies. 

Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, behavior consultation services, provided by a behavior specialist or school psychologist, focus on identifying the function of an observable behavior and determining appropriate evidence-based approaches and interventions. Prior to a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), behavior consultation can include classroom observations, parent/teacher interviews, Function Based Thinking (FBT) hypothesis testing. Services can also include completing Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and subsequent Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) as appropriate and meeting NYS mandates. In-service presentations are also available. 

New York State Certified School Psychologists utilize their specific training and expertise in psychosocial development, family and classroom dynamics, and community resources to collaborate with students, families, school personnel, and community organizations to maximize each student's academic and personal success.  School Psychologists can conduct classroom observations, behavioral assessments, psycho-educational evaluations, individual and group counseling, and consult with school staff.