During the

school year, Pathways offers two after-school behavioral modification

programs Beginnings and Insights for children with behavioral or emotional

problems. Children are referred to these programs by school counselors,

the Department of Family and Children Services, parents and sometimes

the courts.

Pathways Center

is a human services agency providing services annually to some 6,000 persons

with mental health issues, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases

in Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties.

In the summer

months, the program expands to three to five hours daily with extensive

treatment and counseling.

Pathways' goal

is to help increase the overall level of functioning of these youth by

teaching various skill levels to manage anger and impulses,involve parents

with the process and ultimately integrate children in mainstream activities

at school and other social settings, said Joan Turner, executive director

of Pathways.

In Newnan,

some 22 young people attend the Pathways Center at 12 Savannah St. for

the daily program.

Children enter

the first step of the program, called Beginnings, using activity therapy

modalities that focus on anger management, hygiene, social skills and

dealing with their parents.

Beginnings

teaches skills that will get them into Insights, said Greg Robinson, social

service day coordinator in Newnan. They are learning through different

activities such as horticulture, art therapy and music therapies.

"In Beginnings,

Robinson said, We have to start like a parent does, teaching basic social

skills. It is hands on treatment," he said. "You've got to show

them how to do things, not just say it."

"When

a child is referred into the program, Robinson said, their normal pattern

may be total disruption. Then we try to change it. We have to identify

what isnt right and replace it with what is right."

Friday is usually

a big day, Robinson said.

"Recently

we staged a malt shop, pizza shop, and the mall. Children also go fishing

at Newnan Lake or in the Chattahoochee River on the edge of town."

"We stage

it first so we can make sure their behavior is right," Robinson said.

"We want them to do good so we practice the behaviors. We do a number

of tests and exercises here before they go out in public."

When children

move into day support the Insights program the treatment takes on a different

feel. The children are more able to sit, listen and talk over their feelings.

"We do

treatment, but we realize that they're still kids," Robinson said.

"We work on solving problems by talking through them."

Pathways uses

a token system, a reward system to earn tokens for positive behavior.

Children get to spend it on a movie day or pizza party or snacks.

When they go