Contact us:
- Call 316-293-2691 for more information about the BREATHE program.
- View the program flyer (PDF) for additional details.
Building Relationships and Targeting Healthy Emotions (BREATHE)
2024 Summer Program for Children with ADHD in Collaboration with the Haysville School District
About the BREATHE Program
KU School of Medicine-Wichita, in conjunction with the Haysville School District, is offering a therapeutic summer program for K-5 students. The Building Relationships and Targeting Healthy Emotions (BREATHE) program will teach and reinforce social skills and behavior regulation in the context of sports and recreational activities.
The BREATHE summer sessions will occur from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, from June 3 to July 25, 2024.
The BREATHE program offers a therapeutic alternative to medication for children with symptoms of ADHD. This program, designed for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and related disorders, helps children develop problem-solving and social skills, enhancing their ability to interact positively with peers. Additionally, parents will learn techniques to support and maintain these positive changes at home.
New this year, limited spots are available for BREATHE participants to receive an evaluation or second opinion from the KU Child and Adolescent Psychiatry team, with ongoing monitoring of medications and response to dose changes throughout the program.
For Kids
Children have the opportunity to build friendships and improve athletic skills. Although the program is highly structured and treatment-focused, most children find it enjoyable, similar to other recreational activities.
For Parents
Parents will attend weekly meetings on Mondays from 11 a.m. to noon to discuss ADHD treatments and learn tools for reinforcing the program’s positive changes at home. These sessions focus on improving children’s behavior at home, reducing non-compliant and disruptive behaviors, enhancing home task skills, and fostering stronger family relationships.
The BREATHE program is adapted from the nationally recognized Summer Treatment Program founded by William E. Pelham Jr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Children currently in grades K-5 are eligible to participate in the program, with enrollment limited to those who meet certain criteria. Referrals can be made by school personnel, mental health professionals, physicians or parents. Parent and teacher questionnaires will help determine if this program is a good fit for your child.
The majority of each session consists of recreational group activities, including soccer, kickball, and basketball, that implement a variety of treatment components. Group discussions will teach social skills and problem solving. Each group is led by multiple treatment specialists who carry out behavior modification programs designed to treat children's problems in a group context.
A $25 registration fee will be required to finalize enrollment. The remaining expenses are funded by grant support from the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) and Health Resources and Services Admnistration (HRSA).
Our team
The BREATHE program is led by Dr. Nicole Klaus, a board-certified child and adolescent psychologist with more than 15 years of experience treating children with ADHD. Drs. Klaus and Blackhurst co-direct the program and supervise counselors in implementation of BREATHE programming. Our highly trained counselors work directly with children to reinforce sports skill development, social skills, and appropriate behaviors. In general, there are five staff members for every group of 12-14 children. Doctoral-level psychologists supervise all aspects of the program to ensure high-quality, individualized behavioral intervention for your child. The BREATHE program uses only treatments that have been well documented and shown to be effective through research. Additionally, our program staff continues to carefully evaluate treatment effectiveness, both at the individual level and for the program as a whole.
Nicole Klaus, Ph.D., ABPP
BREATHE Director
Zachary Blackhurst, Ph.D., LP
BREATHE Director
Interested in joining our team?
BREATHE is looking to hire energetic staff members to help facilitate our program. Counselors should have experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, or after school, sports, day care or educational programs. Counselors will implement an extensive behavior modification treatment program including feedback and associated consequences, daily and weekly rewards, social praise and attention, appropriate commands and removal from positive reinforcement. Counselors with deliver the treatment components during recreational periods and must have the ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear and be capable of repetitive motion.
"This was such a great opportunity, I gained clinical experience working with children, exposure to evidence-based practice and supervision, and enjoyed working together as a team. I highly recommend this position to anyone interested in applying to graduate school."- Counselor from a previous BREATHE session
Counselors will attend a training session from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 28-31.
Counselors will work 15 hours per week while the camp is in session from June 3 to July 25, with the following schedule:
- Mon: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Tues: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Wed: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Thurs: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Counselors will receive at least 72 hours of direct clinical experience, along with 70 hours of training, supervision, and support activities.
Apply to be an Assistant Director
Apply to be an Administrative Assistant
Questions?
