SNAP

We help children and youth make better choices “in the moment”

What is
SNAP?

The SNAP (Stop Now and Plan) program is a proven, evidence-based intervention designed for children aged 6 to 12 who exhibit disruptive behaviors. This 13- week program equips both children and their parents with strategies to enhance emotional regulation, self-control, and problem-solving skills, ultimately helping children stay engaged in school and avoid behavioral issues

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Fill out the SNAP intake form to register.

SNAP Referral

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Stop And Now Program

A solid research, innovative program development, and stringent evaluation.

A brief history about SNAP

SNAP® is built on three decades of solid research, innovative program development, and stringent evaluation.
SNAP®, is an award-winning, evidence-based, gender sensitive program that is developed by Child Development Institute. A team of scientists and practitioners, including Kenneth Goldberg, Kathryn Levene, Leena Augimeri, Elizabeth Leggett, Camille Hannays and Dr. Debra Pepler develop the program.
CDI which is an accredited children’s mental health organization in Toronto, ON. Operating since 1985, as an intervention program for boys under 12 years in conflict with the law, the program has grown and evolved into an internationally recognized model for teaching children and their parents.

Some of the clinical milestones that SNAP has accomplished are as follows:

1982: Camp Wimodausis, the first Toronto-based specialized day camp for children ages 6 to 11, whose social and behaviour problems would otherwise prevent them from attending a summer day camp, launches.

1996: SNAP Girls Connection – now called SNAP Girls – the first-ever sustained, gender-specific program for behaviourally troubled girls and their families launches. We recognized a significant gap in programming and research to address the unique factors influencing girl aggression and created SNAP Girls to fill this gap.

1998: The Early Assessment Risk List for Boys (EARL-20B) launches. This comprehensive psychosocial risk assessment framework focuses specifically on young children in trouble with the law. The 20 questions in the manual assist practitioners in identifying risk factors associated with future antisocial behaviour in children.

2001: The Early Assessment Risk List for Girls (EARL-21G) launches. It is a comprehensive gender-specific psychosocial risk assessment tool focused on young girls (6-11years) with disruptive behavioural issues.

What is SNAP?

SNAP®, is an evidence based, cognitive behavioural therapy program that provides a framework for teaching children and their parents, effective emotional regulation, self-control and problem solving skills.

Our program utilizes both individual and group counselling for parents and their children (concurrently), once a week for a 13-week family education program.

Is SNAP right for you?

Is your child is between the ages of 6 – 11 years old?

Left untreated, conduct disorders can have long-term, significant impacts on the child, their family and society. Poor lifespan outcomes include persistent criminality (approximately 60 per cent of incarcerated males have a history of conduct disorders), poor vocational and social functioning, mental illness, increased rates of hospitalization, family and parenting dysfunction, and substance abuse.

Typical presenting problems of conduct disorders/disruptive behaviour problems include:

· Difficult family relationships
· Physically aggressive behaviour
· Angry outbursts
· Verbally aggressive or defiant behaviour
· Lack of self-control and problem-solving skills
· Difficulty making and maintaining healthy relationships
· Stealing
· Bullying
· Vandalism

SNAP Components

Girls

SNAP Girls Club

A structured group that meets weekly for 13 weeks and teaches girls the SNAP technique emotion-regulation, self-control, realistic thinking and problem-solving skills.

A concurrent SNAP Parenting (SNAPP) Group

Teaches parents the SNAP technique in conjunction with effective child management strategies.

Girls Growing up Healthy

Typically offered after SNAP groups are completed. The caregiver-daughter group aims to strengthen this essential relationship at the critical pre-teen stage, and to address issues related to physical development and healthy relatioships.

Family Counseling based on SNAP

Stop Now and Plan Parenting

Individual Counseling/ Mentoring

For girls who require extra support

School Advocacy and teacher support

To assist girls who are struggling behaviorally and/ or not performing at their age-appropriate grade level at school.

Boys

SNAP Boys Club

A structured group that meets weekly for 13 weeks and teaches boys self-control, problem-solving and emotion-regulation skills.

A concurrent SNAP Parenting (SNAPP) Group

Group that teaches parents effective child management strategies.

One-on-one family counseling

Based on the SNAPP skills guide

Individual counseling/ Mentoring

For boys who require extra support.

School advocacy and teacher support

To assist boys who are struggling behaviorally and/or not performing at their age-appropriate grade level at school.

What you need to know

SNAP has a proven track record for changing lives.

SNAP proven outcome

Increased emotion regulation, self-control, problem-solving skills, pro-social communication, executive functioning and social competency
Decreased antisocial behaviour, rule breaking, depression, anxiety and police contact
Enhanced ability to make better choices in peers
Improved success at school, including a decrease in disciplinary issues
Increased connection to positive community activities
Development of effective child management strategies, positive support systems, coping abilities and communication skills
Decreased parental distress and increased parental competency
Development of positive pro-social values and conduct

Long-term outcomes (12+ months)

Maintenance of post-group achievements
Continued improvement in the parent’s ability to use effective child management strategies
No involvement with the criminal justice system
Delayed and less frequent trouble with the police/delayed entry into the youth justice system
Continued improvement in the child’s executive functioning

SNAP at Somali Center for Family Services

SNAP®, is culturally informed and is provided by professionals from the same community. Although families of all ethnicities and backgrounds are welcome, we are pleased to offer a culturally responsive program which takes into consideration all cultural, socioeconomic and language-based needs of our clients. We take pride in ourselves in commitment to social justice, anti-racism, anti-discrimination practices such as anti-oppressive, strength-based approach to serving clients.