School-Based Services (SBS) partners with Cambridge Public Schools by collaborating with school staff and students to further enhance and identify ways to help build community within the school. The team strives to help students with perspective taking and conflict resolution skills. We believe these skills are best learned after positive connections are made and, therefore, see relationships as the key to promoting a more peaceful environment.

Ideally, the team is involved in a variety of activities at the school ranging from informal time before school and in the hallways to co-facilitating class with teachers. This includes everything in between, such as advising student groups (i.e., Peer Mediation), leading small groups, etc. The team also can offer specific classroom curriculum material from Voices of Love and Freedom and Bully Busters.

Defining Success for SBS
For the children and schools we serve, success is a heightened sense of community, a greater awareness of school strengths and areas in need of support and a positive connection between SBS and the schools that the team serves. Additionally, success is defined by personal growth that occurs within individual students who participate in individual and group work.

Services Offered

• Group work, including (but not limited to) Student Leadership Teams, Advisory Groups and After-School Programs
• Clinical staff in regular contact with school—arranging groups, supervising intern, training teachers on curricula, if necessary, etc.
• Consultation to teachers, administrators and other school staff on matters of prevention and violence
• Attendance at Cluster meetings and Student Support Team (SST) meetings
• Parent resource packets and sponsoring of Parent Nights with prevention or psychoeducational focus

Eligibility Criteria
To work with SBS, a school must have either a signed contract with The Guidance Center or arrange alternative billing options.

For more information, please contact:

Tania Erlij, LICSW
Program Coordinator
111 South Street
Somerville, MA 02143
Tel: 617.284.5130
Fax: 617.591.0239

PLEASE NOTE: Do not include any client information when communicating via email. Email is for general inquiries only.