Social Skills/Play Groups are offered in every region that FBR serves. Master's and Bachelor's level clinicians facilitate our groups with experience in developing social and age-appropriate play skills for children with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. These monthly groups are highly structured with planned activities that promote positive social interactions with peers. Children are grouped by age and level of functioning. Siblings are welcome to attend groups with their affected brother or sister. Please contact Cathy Hughes, Family Support Coordinator, at (724) 861-4700 / 1-866-4-FBR-ASD or via e-mail at autismservices@familybehavioralresources.com for additional information.

An Asperger’s Support/Social Skills Group is also held in the New Kensington office concurrently with the other groups. This group is comprised of children who have Asperger’s Syndrome (or a similar high-functioning diagnosis) that need a different level of activities from our Social Skill/Play Group. This group should not be confused with the Social Emergence group, since it is offered on a more informal level.

 
Social Emergence Groups for Persons with HFA/Asperger's Syndrome
FBR is modifying the curriculum of its Social Emergence outpatient therapy group for older children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism in Westmoreland County. Formerly known as Phase IV - Social Emergence, FBR is taking a proactive approach to re-developing the program structure to include skill-based and individualized activities.

Goals of the group will include: 
The ability to develop and process friendships
Enhance coping skills with a variety of adolescent/young adult issues such as bullying, understanding social situations in school, and more
Improve perspective taking
Improve ability to transition
Learn to better comprehend the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of others. 

FBR continues to partner with the Spectrum Charter School in Monroeville, PA to offer this program as a pilot.
 
Please contact the Autism Services Office at (724) 861-4700 or send email to autismservices@familybehaivoralresources.com for additional information as it becomes available. We are scheduled to reconvene in early 2008. Feedback  regarding program and community needs are welcomed and appreciated.
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Family Support Groups

Family Support Groups are offered in every region that FBR serves. The Family Support Groups are offered at the same time as our Social Skill/Play Groups. Meetings are offered in collaboration with the Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders (ABOARD) and are usually two hours in length. When requested by families, monthly guest speakers are featured on various topics of interest pertaining to treatments for Autism and related issues. Please contact Cathy Hughes, Family Support Coordinator, at (724) 861-4700 or autismservices@familybehavioralresources.com for additional information.

 
Sibling Support Groups

A Sibling Support Group is offered in New Kensington. The sibling group provides an opportunity for positive interactions amongst siblings of children with Autism. Children have the opportunity to provide support to and learn from each other while participating in structured yet fun activities. An FBR Autism Team Representative or other clinician(s) facilitates the group. Please contact Cathy Hughes, Family Support Coordinator, at (724) 861-4700/1-866-4-FBR-ASD or autismservices@familybehavioralresources.com,  for additional information.

 
H.O.P.E. for Tomorrow Focus Groups
FBR hosts H.O.P.E.(Helping Others Potential Expand) for Tomorrow Focus Groups when an office opens in a new region, or as needs arise per community and staff feedback. Our focus groups gather families, paraprofessionals, physicians, teachers or other educational staff, case managers, and other members of the community in a collaborative open forum to discuss needs for additional programs, workshops or seminars, or other means of outreach through FBR. Our goal is to ensure that we continue to enhance our commitment to providing clinical treatment above and beyond expectation, as well as offer community outreach to better serve families.
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