Residential Programs
Traditional residential treatment is no longer traditional. We continually evolve our residential programming to meet the needs of children, adolescents and families of today and tomorrow.
▶ Trauma Informed Milieu
With an understanding of the impact of trauma on children and adolescents, our staff members are well guided in their interactions and interventions with clients. The Justice Resource Institute Trauma Center's Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) Model provides the foundation on which this understanding is built and developed.
▶ Collaborative Problem Solving
Most Harmony Hill residents need help developing adaptive social and coping skills relevant to his place in treatment. Using collaborative problem-solving methods to develop these critical life-skills helps all children and adolescents feel competent. Each begins to understand he is not the problem, but in fact has the internal solutions and is a valuable, capable individual. Developing and internalizing these skills helps our students transfer what is learned to all environments, helping him not just for the moment, but for a lifetime.
The Collaborative Problem Solving ™ Model by Stuart Ablon, PhD and Ross Greene, PhD, guides our daily interactions. All youth care and education staff are formally trained in this model, which supports our belief that all children and adolescents "do well if they can"™ and that behavior is the clue, not the problem.
A train-the-trainer model, we have invested significant energy and resources to ensure we have ample trainers working in our dormitories and classrooms who reinforce formal training on a daily basis.
▶ Competencies
Integrated and structured, our goal in careful design and assessment of life, social and coping skill lessons is helping children and adolescents develop competency through experiential learning. Our 'comps,' as residents say, require mastery as assessed by all disciplines, before the higher level skill is introduced. In this structure residents become proficient and learn proper skill development.
▶ Enrichment
Student participation in various enriching activities is an important element of holistic treatment. Exposing children and adolescents to new experiences in arts, music, athletics, horticulture and vocations helps develop talent and avenues for expression, while identifying new strengths. Participation is not based on traditional factors such as academic grades or behavior, but instead is viewed as an integral and necessary component of treatment. This model helps residents self-motivate, prioritize and improves noncompliance related to oppositional behavior. Some experiences to date have include inter-costal prep league basketball, golf lessons, guitar and trumpet lessons, meditation, state-level wrestling and restoration of a classic car.
▶ Professional Relationships
Developing professional, respectful relationships with clients and families is critical to establishing an environment in which individuals can safely work on focal treatment goals. Unconditional support, through both set-backs and successes, is naturally provided in this respectful environment. Helping our students develop respect for self and others further strengthens the safe environment in which to heal.
A continuum of care
Our continuum of care from day services, to short term assessment, to residential dormitory or cottage care, to community based group-home treatment provides a unique opportunity to further individualize each child or adolescent's plan. The continuum provides opportunities to receive treatment in the most appropriate setting at different points in time, while maintaining core relationships and the rapport developed with Harmony Hill staff. Specialty programs within our residential and day services further strengthen the continuum available to our consumers.
