The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Social workers help bring 'Sunshine' to schoolkids

By Steve Enders

In at least one classroom in every one of Sunnyvale's schools, a program takes place to give kids a chance to tell their woes to a friend and regain their concentration to make them effective learners again.

In the district's "Sunshine Program," kids can get special attention for a little while if they're having trouble keeping focused in their classes.

This Early Mental Health Intervention Program is a nationally recognized program that started more than 20 years ago in New York.

The techniques have now spread across the country, and have been alive and well in Sunnyvale's schools for the last 11 years.

In California, grant money is available to start up the program at each individual school. After three years the grant money is gone, but so far the district has been able to pick up the tab to continue the program each year in each school.

"Some think that mental health equals mental illness, and that's simply not true," said Barbara Myers, the district's social worker who heads up the program.

Myers said that kids are referred to the Sunshine Program by their teachers or parents when they're not making it in regular classes due to troubles ranging from hyperactivity to problems at home.

Kids are left picking up the pieces from parent divorces, job stresses or moving. When those out-of-school situations get in the way of in-class performance, she said, programs like this can help.

"Research shows that 80 percent don't need further service. We've been just delighted with how it works," Myers said.

For 12 weeks, kids get one-on-one attention from a social worker, who is contracted part-time by the district. The students--usually between kindergarten and third grade--use a separate classroom to do anything they want to do.

Myers called her methods "non-directive," meaning that the student gets to be the boss. If they've got nervous energy, they can play games like basketball. If they're feeling quiet, they can sit in a corner and do nothing--whatever it takes to eventually crack the student's shell.

Myers added that the program isn't just for kids, either. Parents are usually involved at "parent resource centers," attending workshops and meeting with the social workers to evaluate their children's performance. The resource centers are located at Bishop, Cherry Chase and Lakewood Elementary schools.

The parenting workshops, called the "Family Connection" offer advice on topics ranging from self-esteem and disciplining kids to anger and stress management to family communication.

About 200 kids have gone through the program this year, and about 40 parents attend each workshop, she said.

The staff who work with the kids are called their "special friends," and assist them to break out of whatever it is that's troubling them.

Fay Cottingham is another social worker who has been hired on by the district to work with the kids at Ellis Elementary School. She sees about 15 kids a semester, and deals with them individually in half hour timeblocks.

"It's not therapy," Cottingham said . "It's just one-on-one time where I can be their friend."

Cottingham said that the program is successful due in part to the hands-off approach of the staff. They'll spend time with the kids, forming a relationship and having fun in a separate, low stress environment. Eventually, the children will come out and speak about what's bothering them.

"I've seen a big change in these little ones," Cottingham said.

Cumberland Elementary's Principal Brad Hermann has also seen the change in kid's attitudes because of the program. He said that at Cumberland, it's been a success.

"When a child's playing with an adult, they open up with other problems they're having. We put such an emphasis on academics that this piece may often get overlooked," he said.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 17, 1998.
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