PEERS^® Social Skills Program

for teens aged 14-18 years

Making & Keeping Friends

PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is UCLA's highly acclaimed social skills program for teens between 14-18 years of age.

Navigating the social world is complex, especially in adolescence. From playdates and schoolyard games to get-togethers and conversations, the shift is challenging. For young people on the autism spectrum, with ADHD or anxiety disorders, difficulties in social contexts can cause distress related to peer rejection or neglect, and lead to social avoidance. Without intervention, teens who struggle to make and keep friends typically lack quality connections, which can lead to lifelong social struggles and isolation.

Early intervention, like UCLA's PEERS® program, is powerful. It uses peer-mediated techniques to build friendship skills and includes caregiver training for ongoing support. This parent involvement component is considered 'gold standard' for any social skills training. In fact, in 2021, the NDIA released its 'Consultation Paper: Interventions for children on the autism spectrum'.  The paper outlined that, 'Research supports the inclusion of parent-training in intervention programs for young people on the autism spectrum, and that caregiver involvement in an intervention had a similar, and at times greater effect on child outcomes compared to interventions delivered by clinical practitioners alone" (Disability National Insurance Scheme, p.9, 2021).

About PEERS® for Teens
The PEERS® for Teens program is one of the only evidence-based interventions focusing on social skills for teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. It is a 14-week parent-assisted program designed to help motivated teens learn how to make and keep friends. Participants benefit from interactive weekly classes, which provide the opportunity to learn skills by following concrete steps, practise new skills during the session, and then again at home with the support of a key caregiver.

Homework, reviews, and fun activities enhance teen learning. Parent coaching runs alongside, extending support and guidance. This ensures caregivers can help teens broaden social networks and provide feedback during assignments.

During sessions, teens and at least one caregiver attend concurrently. Teens learn key skills, while caregivers join separate sessions, discovering how to support their teens throughout and after the program. At least one caregiver's attendance is mandatory with the teen.

Topics of Instruction 

• How to use appropriate conversational skills
• How to find common interests by trading information
• How to use humour appropriately
• How to enter and exit peer conversations
• How to handle rejection, teasing, and bullying
• How to be a good host during get-togethers
• How to choose appropriate friends
• How to be a good sport
• How to handle arguments and disagreements
• How to deal with peer pressure

inclusions

• Parent Information Session
• Pre-Post Program surveys and results
• Teen group sessions - 14 x 90-minute weekly structured group sessions focussing on a specific social skill, followed by role plays and activities to compliment learning
• Caregiver support sessions - 14 x 90-minute weekly structured caregiver sessions that run simultaneously to teen sessions. These sessions focus on reviewing home tasks, administering handouts and providing feedback on how caregivers can coach their teens socially
• Handouts & Resource Folder 
• Certificate upon completion of the program
• Graduation party celebration
• Summary Report after completion of the program

Participant Requirements

So that all participants have the best opportunity to benefit from the program, teens must meet certain participant criteria. These include:

• Have friendship problems and/or difficulties socialising with same-aged peers
• Aged between 14 and 18 years of age
• Within the average to above range for cognition and language
• Emotional, behavioural and psychological stability
• Teens must be interested in attending and agree to participate voluntarily. Please speak with your teen first.
• Teens and their caregiver/s must attend consistently

2024 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE NOW OPEN!

For more information email: makingconnectionstoowoomba@gmail.com

Research Publications on PEERS®
www.semel.ucla.edu/peers/research

Parent perspective of PEERS®

https://childmind.org/about-us/our-impact/year-end-2022/how-ava-learned-to-live-the-way-she-wants