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Foundations Behavioral Health Publishes
Behavioral Health Guide Book

Doylestown, PA (June, 2000) - Helping teenagers navigate the rocky years between childhood and adulthood is a major challenge. Students cannot learn to their full potential if they are overwhelmed by emotional problems. A new resource to help families, educators, counselors and school professionals identify students struggling with behavioral health problems that interfere with learning has been published by Foundations Behavioral Health. The guidebook, entitled "LifeWorks: Behavioral Health in the Classroom" provides useful suggestions for young people trying to cope with common childhood problems, including depression, low self-esteem, anger, family issues, eating disorders, substance abuse, and stress.

Written by Nancy DiNatale, Coordinator of School-Based Outreach Services at Foundations Behavioral Health, "LifeWorks" is based upon a program she created to provide students with a mechanism to learn more about their issues and develop appropriate problem-solving techniques. The 200-page book, which sells for $19.95, provides an overview of each subject, and includes coordinated lesson plans, practical ideas, easy to use activity sheets, and exercises that give students the tools for coping with their difficulties.

"Not only does the LifeWorks book raise awareness of crucial issues like school violence, suicide, drugs and alcohol, it is also a primer for preventing and solving these problems, says Nancy DiNatale, M.P.S., ATR.

"Our goal is to educate the community about the signals that may indicate a behavioral health problem," says Ronald Bernstein, president and CEO of Foundations. "This book uniquely helps youngsters explore and understand their feelings so they can cope with the challenges of being a kid."

There are ten million children in this country with a psychiatric illness. Suicide rates have tripled since the 1960's. "LifeWorks" is a prevention tool that can help identify "at risk" students and help them understand, recognize and cope with the issues that are standing in their way of success.

"LifeWorks" can be used in the classroom, at home, in counseling sessions, or provided to individual students who display behavior indicating a potential problem. It motivates students to think about, talk about and understand what they are going through, and to develop coping skills to help them heal.

Foundations Behavioral Health is the only freestanding psychiatric hospital in Bucks County. Founded in 1964, Foundations is a non-profit facility specializing in the care of adolescents. For more information or to order a copy of "LifeWorks: Behavioral Health in the Classroom", call 215-345-0444, x132.

Q&A with Nancy DiNatale, M.P.S., ATR

Author of

"LifeWorks: Behavioral Health in the Classroom"

Q: Why did you publish the "LifeWorks" book?

A: The program I created for the school systems was so well received, we decided to develop a book that could be used by the teachers in the classrooms or with individual students who were identified as 'at risk'. Schools can incorporate the lesson plans into their curriculum.

Q: Is behavioral health something that should be taught in the schools?

A: Teaching students to develop coping schools is extremely important, especially when their emotional problems interfere with learning. The "LifeWorks" lessons can be included in a health class or in any other course where problems might be identified.

Q: What are some of the most important issues facing teenagers today?

A: Violence in the schools has increased the importance of teaching kids how to resolve conflict constructively. "LifeWorks" helps students understand the characteristics found in violent children and provides ways to avoid and deal with violent behavior. Another crucial issue today is teenage depression. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for those between 15 and 24. We want students to know the warning signs of suicidal behavior in a friend and provide the suicidal teen with the motivation to seek help.

Q: How can this book identify an 'at risk' student?

A: Friends, parents, and teachers are often the first to realize that something is wrong. Equipped with the knowledge to determine if the problem is serious or just a stage, we can help students through troubled times. For example, divorce is the most common trauma experienced by kids today. Most of them can resolve the feelings of loss, but some become defiant, anxious, and do poorly in school. Another problem that we want to raise awareness of is abuse. "LifeWorks" describes physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse so that kids can become more in control of their lives and break the cycle of abuse.

Q: Can low self-esteem interfere with learning?

A: A student with low self-esteem often feels like a failure. They don't believe that they deserve high grades, and consequently don't bother to try very hard. We want to raise their feelings of self-worth so they'll be more motivated to learn, set high goals and achieve those goals.

Q: Who should buy this book?

A: Counselors and educators can use the book in the classroom or with 'at risk' kids to steer them in the right direction. Each chapter stands alone and can be used to focus on a particular problem. A counselor might use it to help children cope with depression. A teacher might incorporate the chapters on motivation, raising self-esteem and forming successful relationships into the classroom.

Q: How could a parent use "LifeWorks" at home?

A: Parents can use the book with their children to get difficult issues like substance abuse, death and divorce out in the open. It is a wonderful resource for helping kids work out their problems with activities and exercises that are designed to give them the tools to cope.

Nancy DiNatale, M.P.S., ATR

Author

LifeWorks: Behavioral Health in the Classroom

Nancy DiNatale is the Coordinator of School-Based Outreach Services at Foundations Behavioral Health in Doylestown, PA. The creator of Foundations' innovative "LifeWorks" program, DiNatale helps parents, educators, and mental health professionals identify and increase awareness of student concerns. The "LifeWorks" program has been adopted in many school systems, including Bensalem, New Hope-Solebury, Pennridge, Morrisville, and North Penn. DiNatale developed the program to provide students with a mechanism to learn more about their problems and develop appropriate problem-solving techniques.

An experienced program developer and clinician, DiNatale was Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Partners In Healthcare Association and currently serves as President-Elect for the Association. She has worked in a variety of settings as a clinician, administrator, consultant, and educator. Focusing on the "at risk" student, DiNatale has directed several day programs for children and adolescents in the schools. She also conducts workshops for parents, students, school faculty, and other groups on topics relevant to the behavioral healthcare field.

Her 14 years in the field includes serving as Director of the Partial Hospital Program and Allied Therapy Department at Warminster Hospital/Tenet Healthcare (formerly Allegheny University Hospitals/Bucks County Campus) in Warminster PA. She has also held managerial and clinical posts at Bristol-Bensalem Human Services Center, and the Carrier Foundation.

DiNatale earned her Masters of Professional Studies from Pratt Institute and her Bachelors in Art Education/Art Therapy from the Pennsylvania State University. She is a resident of Doylestown, Pennsylvania.