St. Mary's
Treatment Philosophy
Children who
come to SMHFC come from a variety of backgrounds.
However, most have a history
of trauma, such as abuse or neglect
in common, and all have been placed at SMHFC because their
treatment needs cannot be met in a home or community setting.
With this in mind, SMHFC has developed a treatment philosophy
based on the belief that all children deserve to be safe, to
grow up with a sense of belonging to family and community, and
to know that they are worthwhile and competent, as they prepare
to be productive members of the community.
Treatment planning begins with a thorough
understanding of a child's abuse, or trauma history. Planning is
a team process and involves parents or guardians as well as
trained child care, clinical and medical professionals. Planning
for treatment is always individualized to enhance and develop
every child's unique strengths, skills, and potential.
Family plays an important role in treatment
beyond the planning stage as well. Family members are involved
in school and other progress meetings, and also enjoy on and off
campus activities to practice new skills that help children
prepare for home.
The clinical team at St. Mary's includes
specially trained child care workers, masters-level clinicians,
nurses and consulting psychologists and psychiatrists. Together
with children and parents, the team assesses needs and develops a
culturally competent, family centered, strengths based,
individual treatment plan. Both clinical and nursing staff
are available during non regular business hours for any
emergency situation.
SMHFC provides a continuum of residential
care from long term treatment to acute crisis stabilization. At
every level of care children's safety and wellbeing is our main
concern.
St. Mary's
Continuum of Residential Programs
Residential Treatment
Residential care may last from 6 to 12
months, depending on the needs of the child and family. Boys
ages 6 to 13 and girls ages 6 to 18 participate in a program
that emphasizes positive relationships with staff and peers, and
the development of skills that will enhance self control and
healthy living habits. Daily and weekly schedules include school
and homework, recreation, individual, group and family therapy,
family visits, off grounds activities, and social and daily
living skills development. The goal of residential
treatment is to help children and families heal, and to help
them develop healthy and satisfying
relationships.
Abuse Reactive
Treatment (Mauran Unit)
The Mauran Unit is designed to provide for
the safety and rehabilitation of eight latency aged boys who
have exhibited chronic and developmentally abnormal abuse
reactive sexualized behavior. For most of the residents of this
unit, sexualized behavior is a reaction to exposure to abuse and
neglect in their own homes.
The Mauran Unit assures safety with a high
staff to resident ratio and a unified treatment approach.
Program components include daily groups, individual and family
therapy, school recreation and other structured daily living
activities.
The program is contracted through the
Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and referrals
are processed through the DCYF Residential Review team.
Ninety Day
Emergency Shelter
St. Mary's Home for Children maintains an
emergency shelter for 8 DCYF involved teenage girls ages 12 to
16. The shelter program provides stabilization, clinical
support, and treatment planning for girls and their families.
Residents of the shelter to to public school, participate in
community activities and attend weekly group therapy. Every
effort is made to provide a structured and normal lifestyle
until a more permanent home can be found.
Acute Residential
Treatment Services (ARTS)
In the fall of 2004, St. Mary's Home for
Children added a new component to its continuum of services -
Acute Residential Treatment Services (ARTS). Designed as a
hospital step down for children no longer needing in-patient
care, and for children diverted from hospitalization, the ARTS
program provides intensive, short term stabilization,
individual, family and group therapy, psychiatric evaluation and
medication stabilization, and needs assessment and referral, in
a structured, safe and nurturing environment.
Partial Day Program
St. Mary's Home for Children also offers a
Partial Day Program for children who are ready to be at home,
but may not be ready to meet the demands of a full daily
schedule. Located on the same site as the ARTS program, the
Partial Day Program affords children a structured daily routine
as a step toward rejoining their regular community activities
and commitments. While in the Partial Day Program, children
follow the same program as the ARTS participants including
individual, family, and group therapy, recreational activities,
school, and study time.
The ARTS and Partial Day Programs accept
admissions for boys ages 5 to 13, and girls ages 5 to 18, from
hospitals, mental health facilities, DCYF, and participating insurance companies.
In Patient
Diagnostic Assessments
St. Mary's Home for Children offers
residential diagnostic assessments to assist professionals and
families in treatment planning. Asessments include a
comprehensive review of child and family history, psychiatric
evaluation, educational/psychological testing (as needed), and intense
observation during the assessment period. Clinical impressions
and specific recommendations for treatment are included from
each of the disciplines included in the assessment process.
Sexual abuse, speech and language, and
substance abuse assessment components may be arranged by outside
providers as requested and/or deemed necessary and appropriate.
Discharge/Transitional Plan
Discharge planning begins at admission when
a permanency plan is identified by the treatment team. At each
quarterly treatment plan review, the treatment team will review
the resident's progress toward discharge. Daily living
skills, social and communication skills, and academic
achievement will all be considered when assessing the
appropriate time to move into the transition phase.
The transition phase is typically 3 months.
During that time, the next placement (home, independent living
or perhaps an interim step before home) is identified. Home
visits (or visits to the identified next placement) are extended
to give residents time to practice skills in the new setting.
