Social Skills Support Programs

We offer a variety of programs to support the unique needs of children with developmental disorders and their families.

Move to Communicate

The Move to Communicate group offers specialized activities to children under the age of 4 who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and/or a developmental disorder. The group activities are based on the Early Start Denver Model and designed to support communication and verbal skills, motor skill development, and feeding and self care.

Sessions are held two mornings a week from 9:30-11:30 am at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Parents are required to attend with their child and remain present during sessions where they will receive parent coaching.

To be eligible to participate, children must be physically mobile and not enrolled in a regular school program in the morning. Children are eligible to attend until enrolled in an Early Childhood Program through their local school district or adequate progress is made.

For more information and to learn if your child is eligible to participate, please contact us at 314-268-2700 ext. 3417.

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

Teens ages 12 to 18 years who have difficulty in making and keeping friends are eligible to participate in the PEERS® program offered by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Knights of Columbus Developmental Center.

PEERS®, or Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is a 14 week evidence-based social skills program for motivated middle and high school teens with ADHD, Asperger's, High Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, anxiety, or Social Pragmatic Disorder.

Online Teleheath Option

The Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital is now offering a telehealth option for adolescents who are wanting to participate in the PEERS® program.

• PEERS® for Adolescents is an evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens in middle and high school who are interested in making and keeping friends and/or handling conflict and rejection.
• Teens and parents attend 14 weekly telehealth sessions over Zoom for 90-minutes each week with Certified UCLA PEERS® telehealth providers.
• Teens are taught social skills through didactic lessons and role-play demonstrations as well as practice these skills during online socialization activities.
• Parents attend separate telehealth sessions simultaneously and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends.
• Parent participation is required.
• Accepting most insurance plans at this time.

Teens will learn about:

• Using social media and online platforms to develop and maintain friendships
• Conversations skills
• How to enter and exit conservations
• Electronic communication
• Using humor appropriately
• Organizing get-togethers
• Being a good sport
• Handling disagreements
• Changing a bad reputation
• Handling teasing and bullying

For questions about eligibility or to begin the enrollment process, please call 314-268-2700 ext. 3580.