RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
EDUCATION:
In the residential setting, our children attend Volusia County schools and receive after school tutoring services twice a week from certified teachers in the community. The teachers provide additional instruction in math, reading, english, and homework support as needed. As a result of this one-on-one attention, most of our residents dramatically improve their academic standing and many of them make the honor roll! Our campus school program, Aldersgate Academy supports the academic needs of children in the Emergency Shelter Care program with a certified teacher on staff.
EMERGENCY SHELTER CARE PROGRAM:
The shelter care program is designed to support Community Partnership for Children youth who are in crisis and in need of stabilization and temporary placement for up to 30 days. The child is then moved to the appropriate placement which could be a variety of options to include a home on campus, a foster care home or to a relative placement.
SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC GROUP HOME:
The Therapeutic Group Home supports up to eight (8) children who qualify for a higher level of care determined by a specific multidisciplinary team in the community. This model of care utilizes shift staff providing a very structured program and a Certified Behavioral Analyst to develop a specific behavioral modification plan. This program also provides a Clinical Coordinator and a qualified therapist who meets with the children individually twice weekly.
TEEN MOTHER/BABY PROGRAM:
Elizabeth Home, our new Teen Mother/Baby Program, serves teens who are pregnant or new mothers to help them become full contributors to their children, themselves and to the surrounding community. The teens will learn the basics of parenting, nurturing, bonding, and general care as well as to help them develop coping skills for the inevitable challenges of everyday life.
SEXUALLY REACTIVE BOYS PROGRAM:
Children exhibiting sexual behavior problems and poor physical boundaries are increasingly being referred to residential treatment. The Children’s Home acknowledged a need for this specialized type of care and opened a home to specifically treat children with these issues. Since that time, this 10-bed single room/bath home has been consistently filled, with a current waiting list. This effort acknowledges that treatment rather than containment is the best result for prevention of further victimization and trauma among this age group.
RECREATION:
The children have numerous opportunities to participate in a variety of activities throughout the week. Some of the activities include but are not limited to the ropes course, utilizing a certified ropes instructor for safety monitoring, and the appropriate safety equipment required for participation. The ropes course activities provide opportunities for youth to build self-esteem, trust, and develop a sense of teamwork. Additional outdoor activities include flag football, baseball, tennis and swimming in our Olympic- sized pool. The gymnatorium is used as a gym and an auditorium. Indoor games in the gym include basketball, dodge ball, and kickball. This facility also provides a life skills training room, an arts and crafts room, and a game room for the residents’ entertainment. Additionally, we have a state- of -the -art weight room with a certified trainer who assists the youth in appropriate weight training techniques for strength building.
HEALTH SERVICES:
We have recently opened the Wellness Center, which focuses on the health, and wellness of residents and staff. There is a variety of available prevention information, as well as a trained Registered Nurse and a Licensed Practical Nurse to assess and attend to the children’s daily medical needs. This facility also houses our infirmary. Our Medical Director, Dr. Bruce Henry is a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and also has an office in the Wellness Center. Dr Henry completes a psychiatric assessment upon each child’s admission to determine if medication is necessary for treatment. If so, the child will meet for medication management once a month or more often as needed.
CLINICAL SERVICES:
Currently there are seven therapists for the residential care program and two specialized therapists for the Emergency Shelter and the Therapeutic Group Home. A variety of clinical disorders and behaviors are attended to that include but are not limited to: Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADHD, Attachment Disorder, Bi Polar, Depression, substance use/abuse, self-injurious behaviors, sexually acting out behaviors, and impulse-control issues. The children have experienced trauma, separation and often times abuse before coming into our care. Many of our clinicians are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Social Workers, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and specialize in substance abuse, trauma or abuse related issues. A treatment plan is developed through a multidisciplinary team process and the treatment is guided by the goals and interventions created on the treatment plan. The child’s discharge planning is developed the day of admission, with the goal of reuniting families as soon as possible when reunification is an option. Upon discharge, after care services are put into place to provide the needed community support to the family.
Our Clinical Internship program provides services to graduate student interns which have traditionally been UCF and Rollins students. However, we are working on supporting students from Asbury Methodist Seminary which has recently developed a Mental Health Counseling program coupled with Religious Education. Individual and group counseling, treatment plan writing and weekly supervision from Michael Schwing, LCSW are just a few of the services provided for the student learning experience.