ABSTRACT
The structure of the Social Coaching Session helps keep caregivers on track, which is absolutely neces - sary to keep the session productive. The sequence of Homework Review, Didactic Lesson, Homework Assignments, and Reunification is pretty straightforward, and social coaches will catch onto the routine quickly. For social coaches who missed the previous session, it is important to avoid giving “extra time” during the group, as this is unfair to those who attend regularly. The same is true for group members who arrive late. This special treatment gives the message that it is not important to attend regularly and on time, and may reinforce absences and tardiness. Similarly, if a different caregiver “filled in” during the previous session, do not count on them conveying enough of the session content to be sufficient to complete the assignments. Instead, give the handout of the missed session to the returning social coach and use the Homework Review with other caregivers as a way of informing them of what they missed. Sending Social Coaching Handouts in the previous week to absent group members via email is another option, but be sure to always have extra handouts from previous sessions on hand in case group members are absent.
