GREENFIELD — The YMCA in Greenfield in conjunction with licensed social worker Garry L. Earles, will be offering a five-class course on child and adolescent mental health conditions and accompanying issues.
The program will benefit parents, grandparents, public and private school educators, school auxiliary personnel, social workers and day care providers, according to organizers.
On April 14 from 6:45 to 9 p.m. there will be a free public forum to introduce the topics that will be presented for the next five Thursdays, April 21 through May 19 from 6:45 to 9 p.m.
The five class topics will be cognition and emotion; hyperactive and impulsive kids; you don’t get just one; anxiety, trauma and stress; and “now what?” The 12-hour course (which includes credit for the public forum) is $125.
Educators will get credit certificates. The application has been submitted for social worker CEUs. A limited amount of financial aid is available.
Bob Sunderland, Y executive director said, “The Y is happy to host this quality program that can help parents, teachers and social workers better understand and help area children struggling with mental health issues.
This program fits very nicely in the Y’s three areas of focus which are youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. As a nonprofit, locally funded charity, everything our Y does is an ongoing effort to make us better as individuals and as a community.”
Mr. Earles is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with specific expertise in child and adolescent mental health. For more information, contact him at gle1@comcast.net or 413-863-4128.
To register for the free public forum on April 14 or the five week course do so in person at the Y or by calling the Y at 413-773-3646, ext. 0.