Michael A. Hombach, LCSW-C

STEP 1 THERAPIST

STEP 1 is a Frederick County Public School's program for elementary aged students with severe emotional and behavioral concerns.  We offer a small sturctured enviornment with a behavior managment  component and school-based mental health services.  We have a strong track record of helping children stay in the public school system and avoiding out of county non-public school placements.

Top Ten Reason's to Call Your Child's School-Based Therapist:

10.  Your child had a recent medication change.

9.  Your child had trouble sleeping the night before.

8.  The household routine has been disturbed.

7.  You need help obtaining mental health services for your student.

6.  The household changes in composition (someone moves out or in).

5.  Your family needs help paying for food or housing.

4.  You haven't done an intake with your child's therapist.

3.  You would like a meeting with school staff.

2.  Your child has a new mental or physical health issue.

1.  Your child came home and told you they did somthing "bad" at school but won't tell you what.

Sleep

The most common factor I see in students who have behavioral problems during a school day is that they got less than nine hours sleep the night before.  Our students must get up very early in some cases to catch the bus.  If your child is getting up at six to catch the bus, he or she should be going to sleep no later than nine the night before.  Any time you suspect your student has slept less than seven hours, please call me that morning. 

Links to Mental Health Resources for Children

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill  www.nami.org

National Institute of Mental Health  www.nimh.nih.gov

National Mental Health Association www.nmha.org

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation www.bpkids.org

www.pbismaryland.org

Contact information:

Michael Hombach LCSW-C

michael.hombach@fcps.org

240-236-3743

Lewistown Elementary School

11119 Hessong Bridge Road

Thurmont, MD 21788