This service provides additional support for educational teams to help a school-aged child remain in the home school in the least restrictive environment. This can be presented through various methods according to specific identified needs, such as a student who requires an in-depth assessment and ongoing support due to behavioral issues or a team requesting assistance with adapting equipment for a student with multiple disabilities. TST BOCES and Racker Center staff members provide CAST services. These services are designed to provide support and to empower the school team to develop and implement meaningful strategies to assist a student.

For districts that participate in CAST, the Assistive Technology & AAC Team is available for consultations and evaluations.

Academic Support Goals

• Request, obtain and facilitate completion of homework for students.

• Communicate with school counselors regarding student needs, behavior, etc.

• Share information with treatment team to assist in identifying, addressing and strategizing solutions.

• Create an environment of learning in which students feel safe.

• Understand, appreciate and engage diverse student learning styles.

Back to School

Transition, Re-Entry Meetings, Check-ins Upon discharge from CMC, students most often return to school the very next day. Continuity of a positive schedule is important. It is highly recommended that the District schedule “Re-Entry” meetings to establish and reinforce connections with returning students.

Suggestions for the District

Fax homework to 274-4130 or email to cbankert@cayugamed.org.

District should request homework from teachers as soon as informed of the hospitalization as duration of stay is short.

District should request only 2-4 days’ of homework from teachers to start. If a student is behind on class/homework, this is a great opportunity to make-up some of that work. Provide homework from multiple subjects to allow for student choice. Often, pictures and maps do not fax well,
please email. Teacher Note Pages for assignments (especially Math) are always appreciated. Education is provided daily to the students.

Although students have a lot of important personal work to address while on the unit, homework provides the students with a sense of normalcy, and assists our program greatly. Thank you.

As part of our commitment to provide learning opportunities to all members of the community, we offer an Incarcerated Youth Program in partnership with the Tompkins County Jail.  Housed in the jail at 779 Warren Road, Ithaca, this service offers educational classes to learners up to 21 years of age while they are incarcerated. Coursework can be submitted directly to our instructional staff, or if no coursework is provided, TST instructors work with students on enhancing the skills necessary to complete their GED.

Our goal is to build on the academic knowledge, and skills necessary to become successful and productive community members.  The Incarcerated Youth Program is dedicated to promoting academic progress and fostering a climate that supports each student’s development and realization of their full potential.

Incarcerated Educational Program Leaflet

Our professionals travel to component districts, providing specialized services:

• Speech Therapists

• Occupational Therapists

• Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired

• Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Itinerant Services Flyer

Lighthouse is a voluntary, short-term, transitional program that allows students to build skills to be more successful in school. The goal of the program is for students to return to their home schools upon completing the program.

Lighthouse is NOT a special education program, students must voluntarily choose to attend.

• The program is designed to support students from 7th through 12th grades. The small supportive environment of the classroom includes an 8:1:1 ratio with a teacher and teaching assistant supporting academics and a social worker providing therapeutic support.

• Students work with a social worker in 1:1 counseling. They also attend group counseling during the week with the staff and other students. Counseling is primarily focused on building Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills students can use when they return to their homeschool, including cognitive restructuring, distress tolerance, acceptance and mindfulness.

Lighthouse Leaflet

School Supportive Health Services Program – SSHSP
The Preschool/School Supportive Health Services Program – SSHSP – was developed, and is administered jointly, by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State Department of Education (SED). 

SSHSP helps 4201 schools, school districts, and counties get Medicaid reimbursement for students with disabilities who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  These students are from ages five up to 21 years of age. Preschool students (ages three to five) may also be covered.

All Medicaid requirements must be met to be reimbursable. These requirements are:

Medically necessary and included in a Medicaid covered category in accordance with 1905(a), 1905(r)(5) and/or 1903(c) of the Social Security Act;
Ordered or prescribed by a NYS Medicaid enrolled physician or other licensed practitioner acting within his or her scope of practice under New York State law;
Included in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP);
Provided by qualified professionals under contract with or employed by a school district or a county in the State or the City of New York;
Furnished in accordance with all requirements of the State Medicaid Program and other pertinent federal and State laws and regulations including those for provider qualifications, comparability of services, and the amount, duration and scope provisions and
Included in the State’s Medicaid plan or available under Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) services.
A school district or county must be enrolled as a Medicaid provider to bill for Medicaid reimbursement.

SSHSP Medicaid Reimbursable Services*:

• Medical Evaluations

• Psychological Evaluations

• Audiological Evaluations

• Physical Therapy

• Occupational Therapy

• Speech Therapy

• Psychological Counseling

• Skilled Nursing

• Special Transportation

*Preschool/School Supportive Health Services Program (SSHSP) Medicaid-In-Education Medicaid Provider Policy and Billing Handbook (Update 8), Page 6

The Possibilities Program is a collaboration between TST BOCES and Racker, a regional non-profit agency.  Possibilities provides support to School districts, students and their families in grades K-12 via an innovative continuum of care. Supports through Possibilities include:

• Case Management and support to individual students and families 

• Short term solution focused counseling for students and families  

• Consultation and support to school staff in participating districts 

• Onsite/virtual professional development 

• Onsite/virtual skill building groups for students  

• Solution focused planning 

The Possibilities Team includes licensed clinical social workers, teachers and youth development specialists.

Possibilities Leaflet