|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Child Residential Treatment Unit |
| |
The Residential Treatment Philosophy
Children should always be treated with unconditional positive regard. By treating children and their families with respect and kindness, the environment becomes one that is open for therapeutic intervention and positive growth. The program utilizes a behavior modification model that is structured to teach children to increase their awareness and talk about their thoughts and feelings. Our treatment team believes that our residents' thoughts, feelings, and needs have a lot to do with the choices they make, and that children between the ages of 5-12 are constantly seeking feedback about their behavior. The foundation of our program focuses on teaching our clients that safe, positive, and appropriate behaviors lead to positive consequences and that acting in an unsafe, negative, and inappropriate manner leads to negative consequences. We use a Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic approach in the Milieu which includes a Phase System that the child moves up in as he/she progresses in treatment. Therapy focuses on the individual and the family. Focusing on the entire family unit is essential, guiding and facilitating an open dialogue and teaching the intervention skills used in treatment which in turn assures success after discharge.
The RTC Program
Each incoming child and his or her family receives a full orientation to the program rules and expectations, as well as a tour of the facility. Children are expected to meet program expectations on a daily basis, including making their beds, and cleaning their rooms, as well as completing personal hygiene, and attending all program groups, school and activities. Residents on the RTC have a number of different positive-reinforcement incentives available to reward positive interaction and effort.
Rules are simple and easy to understand so that each child has a greater opportunity for success. Weekly treatment team meetings help to establish and implement creative and useful interventions to aid in the treatment of the child. Individual treatment plans are created upon admission by the treatment team directed by the client/parent/guardian and are updated monthly. Special programs are implemented, when needed, to aid the child on the road to success. All staff are trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention to be used as de-escalation techniques. Residents are kept busy with a number of groups, on-site education, as well as field trips and arts and crafts opportunities. Our goal is to assist each resident with acquiring the tools needed to leave Desert Hills and be successful at home, at school, and in the community.
Education
Several educational options are available to the residents including a full educational program through a charter school housed on the Desert Hills campus, a North Central Accredited private school and an APS home bound program. When school is out for breaks, Desert Hills hires APS teachers to continue the educational process. Therefore, school is offered to these students 12 months of the year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
