Eating Disorders

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The Clinton program has also offered family programs, including a light supper, parenting classes and activities for children.

At Shirley High School, students in the Alternative Learning Center work once a week with Mel Long, a school psychology specialist.

Students qualify for the alternative program if they meet a variety of criteria, ranging from failing in school to home problems to being a victim of abuse.

Vicki Sandage, director of the Alternative Learning Center, said Long’s weekly visits give her students, who frequently deal with instability in their lives, something to look forward to every week.

“They have bonded with her and trust her,” Sandage said.

“I can’t teach them self-esteem or self-worth, but I can give them an opportunity to experience something that makes them feel better about themselves, and then they build on that.

And that’s what this does.” TACKLING STRESS During a Tuesday morning session, Long gave students a worksheet for them to use to measure — from a low score of 1 to a high score of 5 — their stress levels in certain situations.

Rebecca Davidson, 16, said she rated being bullied as a 5, which prompted Long to lead a discussion about what choices Davidson could make in how she responds to the bullying.

Suggested responses from the students included physically fighting back, telling a teacher or principal, or walking away.

Davidson, a junior w...

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