Team Approach to providing SLP services in Schools

Team approach to therapy

                              In this collaboration model, a group of SLPs and SLPAs “converge” at a school site to provide therapy services to children.  The table below is an example of a working model of team approach to therapy:

Therapist / Time	8:15am-8: 45am	8:45am-9: 15am	9:15am-9: 45am
SLP 1	Kinder Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4	Social Skills group [Combo group] Student 13 Student 14 Student 15 Student 16	Grade 2 Student 25 Student 26 Student 27 Student 28
SLP 2	Grade 1 Student 5 Student 6 Student 7 Student 8	Articulation Aerobics [Gr 1-3] Student 17 Student 18 Student 19 Student 20	Grade 3 Student 29 Student 30 Student 31 Student 32
SLP/A 3	Grade 1 Student 9 Student 10 Student 11 Student 12	Grammar Gym [Gr 4/5] Student 21 Student 22 Student 23 Student 24	Grade 4/5 Student 33 Student 34 Student 35 Student 36

                                            A group of three SLP/SLPA work as a team to provide services to students at a school site. As inferred from the above table, a total of thirty-six students receive therapy services simultaneously in three different centers/locations [Speech room /SDC Classroom /Resource Specialist room] within a school site. 

Benefits of this approach:

1 The SLP team provides therapy services to a group of students in a short time [in this example –90 minutes or an hour and half of therapy per SLP] as compared to a longer therapy duration [e.g 9 groups x 30 minutes each = 270 minutes or four and half hours] when therapy is provided by a single SLP. 

2.A therapist works only with three groups / twelve students per site, thus able to prepare high quality/effective therapy tools and deliver quality therapy.

3. If a team member is out sick or busy at evaluations/IEP meetings, the rest of the team can share the caseload thus delivering therapy services without interruption.

4. There is a high Medi-Cal reimbursement because students receive therapy services consistently as mandated.

5.Students can return to their classes on time to attend core instructions/ class activities.

6.Parents have expressed satisfaction over this approach as their children receive therapy services consistently.

7.The students receive therapy from three specialists who have specialization /expertise in different treatment approaches. Exposure to various therapy approaches ensures successful acquisition of target skills in a shorter time.

8. The team can travel up to three different school sites on a given day to provide services to a large group of students. Services are provided twice a week to students. Hence, the SLPs get three full days for diagnostic assessments and other intervention services.  

9. The teachers / paraprofessionals who come with students during the sessions learn a variety of strategies from each SLP.

10. As a team, we believe that  “Together Everyone Achieves More”.