Who We Are

Early intervention and family participation can make all the difference when dealing with behavioral challenges. Based out of Holy Family Institute’s McKees Rocks location, SNAP^® (Stop Now and Plan) is an award-winning program for children ages 6-11 and their families to work together on improving their interactions. Children and parents meet in separate group sessions each week with other families facing similar challenges. Participants learn skills and strategies for managing behaviors and form connections with others in the group. After 13 weeks of group meetings, each parent and child meets with their own caseworker to work toward their individual goals.

Davida Gilmore and her son, 11-year-old Zyelle, were having a hard time communicating, resulting in behavior problems at home and in school. They heard about SNAP^® from the school counselor and enrolled in the program. “I really like how the parents communicated and shared their input,” said Davida. “It felt good to get that relief around other parents.”

After a few weeks of meetings, Davida began to feel a shift in her interactions with her son. “He opened up more. He started sharing more stories about his day and asking how my day was.” With the lines of communication open, Davida and Zyelle found it easier to work through challenging behaviors. SNAP^® is particularly effective in overcoming problems because it involves the entire family in the process, allowing them to work together to achieve the results they seek. Over the past five years, nearly 1,000 families have benefitted from the SNAP^® program.