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Social Groups

CARE Clubs

Heartspring's CARE (Community Awareness, Resources, and Education) program offers a wide range of social skill-building opportunities.

CARE ApplicationContact Form
Child sitting between two Heartspring staff members in a group music therapy CARE Club session looking at the camera

CARE Social Skill-Building Clubs

Our goal is to help neurodiverse children and teens learn valuable skills necessary for social and emotional development. Each club is tailored to fit the individual needs of the participants.

  • Focuses on friendship-forming social skills
  • Activities-based groups
    Sensory activities
    Team-building games
    Science experiments
  • Meets twice a month for a semester
  • Ages: middle and high school
CARE Application
Heartspring CARE Vocational Training clients cleaning and volunteering at the Sedgwick County Zoo

CARE Vocational Training

Our vocational training program helps neurodiverse teens develop valuable skills and gain real-world experience, build their resumes, and explore career opportunities.

  • Focuses on preparing teens to enter the workforce
  • Participants Gain Experience Through:
    Volunteer opportunities
    Mock interviews and resume reviews
    Caffeine Connection pop-ups
    Career exploration and/or shadowing
  • The bulk of the program meets during the summer, with other vocational opportunities sprinkled throughout the year for participants
  • High school-aged students
CARE Application

Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®)

PEERS is an evidence-based social skills program developed at UCLA to help children build social skills and lifelong friendships.

The program is specially designed to help children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems.

  • Our multi-week programs meet once a week for 90 minutes.
  • Group sizes vary between 5-8 children.
  • We follow a curriculum with a different age-appropriate topic each week.

PEERS

The original program is geared toward middle and high school students.

Some of the topics we discuss are:

  • How to use appropriate conversation skills
  • Joining a conversation
  • How to find common interests with a peer
  • Using appropriate humor
  • Handling rejection, teasing, and bullying

Introduction to PEERS

This PEERS group is designed to help 4th and 5th graders transition from elementary to middle school.

Different topics each week, including:

  • Conversation skills
  • How to find common interests with a peer
  • Good sportsmanship
  • Handling rejection, teasing, and bullying

Preschool PEERS

Children aged 4-6 years old learn social skills through didactic lessons, puppet shows, and role-play demonstrations, and practice these skills during group socialization activities.

Participants will learn about:

  • Listening and following directions
  • Asking and using names
  • Sharing and giving turns
  • And more!

Interested in PEERS?

Learn more about our PEERS programs and schedules.

Request An Appointment Call (316) 634-8701