We are fortunate at Grand Junction Elementary School to have a program called Project B.A.S.I.C. (Better Attitudes and Skills in Children). Project B.A.S.I.C. is funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Bureau of Health. There are about fifty-five programs statewide.
Project B.A.S.I.C. provides educational, yet entertaining activities to help the students build self-esteem and learn decision-making skills. The B.A.S. I. C. Child Development Specialist goes into the kindergarten classrooms weekly and the first through third grade classes twice a month. For thirty to forty-five minutes the specialist leads the students in activities using, stories, puppets, songs and role-play.
Other components of this early intervention and prevention program are mental health education, early intervention with individuals and structured learning groups, teacher consultation and school climate. Students or groups of students can be referred by the teachers, staff and parents to work on goals such as responsibility, cooperation, and respect. Each individual referral must receive parental permission and then an assessment is done to determine goals. The parent is then notified in writing of the goals for their child. If the specialist thinks this child could benefit from further mental health treatment, a referral is made to Quinco Mental Health Center.
During the 2006-2007 school year, the BASIC Specialist has had kindergarten and first grade responsibility groups, a multi-age school bus responsibility group and study skills group for second graders.
She consults with teachers about individual students that she works with. She is also a liaison between the school and the mental health center and works closely with case managers assigned to our students.
The final component of the program is the school climate. The principal and the B.A.S.I.C. specialist chose working with school and community as a school climate enhancement project. The specialist works with the community by having our students enter artwork in contests such as the Hardeman County Soil Conservation Contest and the Bird Dog Museum Art Contest. This year the City of Grand Junction sponsored a Christmas Coloring Contest that was coordinated by Project B.A.S.I.C. Each month she also has art classes with one grade and then mounts and displays artwork at the post office for the community to see.