DUNMORE, Pa. — Thanks to a $1,700 grant from the Scranton Area Foundation (SAF), Penn State Scranton will be able to continue, and expand upon, a successful specialized training program for area kindergarten, elementary and high school teachers, staff and administrators aimed at helping them better serve students with special needs.

The Teachers Behavioral Curriculum Training for K-12 Northeast PA Teachers program was developed by Penn State Scranton two years ago after receiving feedback from area school superintendents that their teachers were in need of additional training on how to deal with students who have mental disorders, trauma and other difficulties.

Teachers participating in the program receive specialized training in addressing mental health diagnoses and symptoms, trauma, de-escalation techniques, restorative practices and self-care for their students with these needs. Sessions are taught by Penn State Scranton faculty and area community partners.

Initially, nine teachers from three area school districts — Old Forge, Dunmore and Valley View — participated in the program, which also received funding from the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. It then expanded to include those districts, as well as teachers from Abington Heights, Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County, Dunmore, Mid Valley and Western Wayne schools. 

With this additional funding from the Scranton Area Foundation, along with continued funding from the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Penn State Scranton is expanding the program even further to include teachers from Scranton, Lackawanna County’s largest school district — bringing the total number of participating school districts to eight.

“This funding from the Scranton Area Foundation has allowed this valuable training program the ability to reach even more local educators,” said Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan Wafa. “Having an increase in not only the number of area educators, but also more local school districts participating, will help our local communities as a whole, as educators will be able to better identify and help more students who are struggling with mental health issues.”

According to program organizers, an added goal of the program is to help educators recognize struggling students earlier so that they can help their parents and caregivers seek the appropriate medical attention and treatment for their child, which will further help efforts for treatment and recovery.