THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

Parents and children at the Child Advocacy Learning Center left Thursday evening with big smiles on their faces.

The BATES/CAPPS annual Christmas program was held Thursday afternoon at the center, located on Lauderdale Street.

Each child received a Christmas gift at the program’s conclusion.

The BATES program participants presented certificates to their mentors who are in the CAPPS program. Certificates will also handed out for grade improvement, social skills, and parts of their diversity training.

The BATES program acronym stands for Behavior Adjustment Technical Education Service alternative program. It is a program for children who may have exhibited behavioral problems in school, or may need help with developing social skills while coping with a learning disability. Skills learned include conflict resolution and character development within the framework of special needs.

The CAPPS program acronym stands for Child Advocacy Academic Programs. The CAPPS program has an academic focus, helping program participants to develop skills in reading, writing, and math, as well as develop study skills that help children with disabilities learn at the rate of children without disabilities.

“They’re learning how to be providers for their special-needs peers,&8221; Child Advocacy Learning Center founder Carolyn Bates said. &8220;They are then able to spread their experience back to their communities and to their schools.&8221;

Bates said most children enrolled in the program consistently earn grades of A and B in school and many have been on the honor roll the entire school year.