Main description:

Over the past 25 years, we have been on a journey to discover, describe and teach social skills. The modelpresented in this book has had many incarnations, from checklists, to diagrams, and even conceived as apicture frame one especially creative year! As we began conceptualizing the steps, we learned that each stepneeded to be broken down into still others, allowing the opportunity to analyze this task that is "being social"and support those for whom it does not come naturally. The "steps" are more of an escalator, ever moving andinfluenced by so much that happens within the day to day interactions of a real person's life.

Creating the ""Foundation," derived of the desire to understand and communicate the essence of what it meansto be "engaged" with another person, is one of the highlights of this process, and this guide. The Foundationcomponent of the model is currently being implemented as part of a research project related to Fetal AlcoholSyndrome in South Africa - affiliation of Stellenbosch University, University of North Carolina, and Universityof New Mexico. Marci Laurel uses this model extensively in her work in Russia, Nicaragua, and in her privatepractice (Theraplay in New Mexico).

Our goal is to address both a growing understanding of the nature of what it means to be in social relationshipwith others and how to "step on" to the learning process on any given day and over time. Indeed, as we havelearned from so many extraordinary teachers, the process can be exhilarating! It is our hope that people whohave an interest in promoting social skills - family members, teachers, therapists, and the individuals they careabout so deeply - will find Social Engagement and the Steps to Being Social to be a meaningful and practicalguide.

Contents:

FOREWORD - Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D.INTRODUCTION
Why are Social Skills So Important?
CHAPTER 1: ENGAGEMENT as the FOUNDATION
Self-Regulation: Calm + Alert = READY
Shared Space: A Place to Be Together
Shared Focus: A Reason to Be Together
Shared Pleasure: Enjoying the Moment Together
Sub-Skills of ENGAGEMENT
Critical Strategies to Enhance ENGAGEMENT
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support ENGAGEMENT
Case Study: Meet Jorge
Introducing the Steps to Being Social
CHAPTER 2: LOWER FOUR
Proximity
Parallel
Joint Attention
Reciprocal Exchange
Sub-Skills of LOWER 4
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support LOWER 4
Sample Activities to Enhance LOWER 4 Skill Sets
Case Study: Meet Chase
CHAPTER 3: MIDDLE FOUR
Reciprocal Exchange
Give and Take of Conversation
Perspective Taking
Reading the Social Scene
Sub-Skills of MIDDLE 4
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support MIDDLE 4
Sample Activities to Enhance MIDDLE 4 Skill Sets
Case Study: Meet Mason
CHAPTER 4: UPPER 4
Reading the Social Scene
Group Cooperation
Friendship
Growing Connections
Sub-Skills of UPPER 4
Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to Support UPPER 4
Sample Activities to Enhance UPPER 4 Skill Sets
Case Study: Meet Andy
CHAPTER 5: ASSESSMENT
The Steps Assessment
Introduction
ENGAGEMENT
LOWER 4
MIDDLE 4
UPPER 4
The STEPS Assessment Summary
Interpreting the Scores
Evidence-Based Practices Linking to the Skill Sets of the Social Steps
CHAPTER 6: Putting it all Together
Using the STEPS Assessment to Make a Social Plan
Social Plan
FOUNDATION: Scenario and Social Plan Example
LOWER 4: Scenario and Social Plan Example
MIDDLE 4: Scenario and Social Plan Example
UPPER 4: Scenario and Social Plan Example
Other Uses of Social Engagement & the Steps to Being Social
SummaryAPPENDICES
Social Engagement & the Steps to Being Social
The Four Skill Sets
FOUNDATION
LOWER 4: Steps to Being Social
MIDDLE 4: Steps to Being Social
UPPER 4: Steps to Being Social
Social Plan
Thank You
REFERENCES
ABOUT THE AUTHORS