Meet the Founder……………………………Tara W. Funches, MSW
Tara W. Funches, MSW, is an educational behavioral consultant who provides social emotional learning (SEL) through etiquette teas, social skills workshops, after school enrichment programs and wellness summer camps. She presents staff development trainings for after school programs, mentor programs, youth groups and community organizations. She has also partnered with several organizations to facilitate hands-on skill development: The Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts of America, The Boys & Girls Club of America, Jack & Jill of America, Inc., ENS Mentoring Partnership, The Pink Bicycle Tea Room as well as the town of Dumfries.
She equips both youth and adults with a “toolkit” to help them navigate through social situations and manage behavior from a strengths-based perspective. Her interactive approach and solution-focused strategies assist youth with identifying and self-regulating their emotions. Her behavioral interventions from a holistic approach of treating the “whole child” allows adults working with youth and parents to understand and address the various challenges faced at each critical stage of a youth’s social/emotional/behavioral development.
Ms. Funches earned a Bachelor’s degree (BSW) in Social Work from Hampton University and a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania with an endorsement in School Social Work. She also holds certifications in Tea & Etiquette from Etiquette Ladies in Canada as well as Social/Communication/Dining Etiquette from the International School of Protocol in Maryland. Additionally, she holds a certificate in Behavior Management Strategies from the Challenging Behaviors Academy in Virginia. Her professional affiliation is with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and has held leadership positions with the Virginia Association of School Social Workers (VASSW). She is active in her church and community and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, being outdoors, dancing and traveling.