Beyond the Backpack: What Students Need to Thrive

As summer winds down, back-to-school prep usually centers on practical details: supplies, schedules, and routines. But beyond No. 2 pencils and loose-leaf paper, what does your child really need to thrive this school year?

Every child enters the school year with unique learning styles and individual needs. Through the Horwitz-Zusman Child & Family Center (H-Z) at Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS), families access a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, doctors, clinicians, and educators working together to identify strengths, address challenges, and build practical strategies for success.

Psychoeducational Assessments: Lori A. Wilson, Ph.D., Lauralee Bernstein, M.A., and Amy Silverman, Ph.D.
With more than 60 years of combined experience, the H-Z Assessment Team conducts comprehensive evaluations exploring cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavioral functioning.
“A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation provides families with a roadmap,” says Dr. Wilson. “When we understand how a child learns and processes information, we can identify their strengths and areas of need, and guide parents on recommendations and next steps that will help their child thrive.”
These evaluations can help families better understand learning differences, ADHD, or emotional and behavioral factors influencing a child’s school experience, while highlighting strengths and offering personalized recommendations for growth.
“An evaluation is a valuable tool to help a student gain insight into their learning profile,” says Lauralee. “When a student understands how they learn best, what their strengths are, and where they may need support, they are better equipped to advocate for themselves. In turn, self-advocacy helps build confidence and leads a student to be better prepared to handle challenges and achieve their academic goals.”
With the addition of Dr. Silverman, the team brings extensive experience helping families understand the relationship between learning, attention, emotions, and behavior.
“I am thrilled to be back working at JF&CS, where I worked nearly 18 years ago,” says Dr. Silverman. “We are a truly collaborative group of professionals who take the time to get to know children and families in order to develop meaningful, individualized recommendations. Throughout my career, I have worked in many different private practice, university, and community-based settings, but have returned to JF&CS because I truly value using a strength-based lens to help children, adolescents, and young adults better understand themselves in order to reach their full potential.”

Neurodevelopmental Medical Services: Howard Schub, M.D.
Dr. Schub provides medical expertise for developmental, neurological, and behavioral concerns. As founding partner of Child Neurology Associates and ASCEND Pediatric Neurology as well as former chief of neurology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Dr. Schub brings more than 40 years of experience in areas including ADHD, developmental delay, and pediatric movement disorders such as tics and Tourette Syndrome.
“Every child is unique, and understanding their development requires looking at the full picture,” says Dr. Schub. “By collaborating with families and a team of specialists, we can better understand each child’s needs and identify the supports that will help them succeed.”

Executive Function Coaching: Marlena Reese, Ed.D.
Executive functioning skills include organization, planning, time management, task initiation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. These skills support everything from managing homework and long-term projects to balancing college, work, and family responsibilities.

“Whether I’m working with a high school student preparing for college, a young adult finding their footing, or an adult managing the demands of career and family, my goal is the same: to help people understand how they learn best, and develop practical strategies that create lasting success,” says Dr. Reese.
Dr. Reese works with adolescents, college students, young adults, and adults, providing coaching tailored to each person’s goals. She specializes in supporting individuals with ADHD, autism, learning differences, anxiety, and executive functioning challenges, using a strength-based, neuroscience-informed approach to help clients build sustainable systems and develop skills for independence.

Emotional and Behavioral Support
H-Z clinicians support children and families navigating emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs. Whether a child experiences anxiety, attention challenges, learning differences, or social concerns, the team works to understand what may be happening beneath the surface.
Children often communicate through their behavior before they have the words to explain what they’re feeling. JF&CS clinicians use evidence-based approaches to help families understand what’s going on, build on each child’s strengths, and develop practical strategies to grow resilience and coping skills, building confidence along the way.
Because supporting a child means supporting the whole family, JF&CS recognizes that back-to-school transitions impact parents, too. Through JF&CS Adult Clinical Services, caregivers can access dedicated support for their own mental health and well-being.
Whether a child is entering kindergarten, transitioning to middle or high school, or facing new challenges, the right support makes all the difference. The Horwitz-Zusman Child & Family Center partners with families to build confidence and help children succeed in school and beyond.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit jfcsatl.org/hz