Page 26 - Healthcare News May/June 2022

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Something to Build On
Square One’s Cornerstone Program S HelpsBuildEmotionalLiteracy
quare One has always prided itself in caring for and throughout the region, does this in many ways, but especially through a educating young individuals, meaning the whole child. facility called the Cornerstone Therapy room.
There are many elements that go into that phrase, It has been in place since before COVID, but staff and faculty note but, increasingly it means a focus not just on physical that it is needed now more than ever.
health and well-being, but also mental health and its im- “Trauma knows no boundaries,” said Kristine Allard, Vice President
portance to quality of life — today and years down the road, said Dawn of Development and Communication for Square One. “The pandemic DiStefano, President and CEO of Square One. was traumatic regardless of their family’s income, the home they live in, She told HCN that such a focus has always been important, but as a or their circumstances at home; it elevated the need for trauma therapy
Brianna Ottomaniello and student in the Cornerstone Therapy Room having sensory play .
mental health epidemic sweeps the nation in the wake of the pandemic and its lingering side-effects, those at Square One are doing all they can to teach young children emotional literacy.
The non-profit organization, which serves about 500 children every day through early learning and school-aged programming in the Greater Springfield area and a network of 35 family child care providers
to a new level. It was also such a relief and gift that we already had this in place and we didn’t have to find a way and figure out how to create this.”
The Cornerstone Therapy Program is administered by Christa Colly, a former preschool teacher.
She helps teach children how to effectively articulate feelings — and have fun while doing so. She said that the concept for the Cornerstone
26 WWW.HEALTHCARENEWS.COM MAY/JUNE 2022