TRANSITION COTTAGES
Girls' Transition House
Boys' Transition House
Transition Program
Brochure -
Adobe Acrobat
Purpose
The
gradual and planned move of a resident from one level of care to a less
restrictive setting is designed to increase the resident’s possibility of
successful integration back into the community.
Population Served
The Transition House Program
serves girls in one cottage and boys in another.
Admission Criteria
Residents served may be entered
into transition in two ways:
1. Transfer
to transition through progression in treatment in El Pueblo’s Performance
Program for Youth©.
· The
current El Pueblo resident should have achieved a Level IV of the Performance
Program for Youth© in order to be eligible. A Level III resident may
be considered on a case-by-case basis. Residents are expected to complete the 5
levels of the El Pueblo Performance Program for Youth©.
· Residents
should be within the last 90 days of their placement at El Pueblo.
· Transitioning
residents are expected to complete Level IV and Level V of the El Pueblo
Performance Program for Youth©.
2.
Admitted to a less restrictive level of care directly from the community.
Residents are admitted to a
“Transition House” when it has been determined by a team’s decision to be
appropriate for the individual. This determination is made using the following
criteria in a coordinated approach with a therapist, caseworker or client
manager, probation officer, parent, GAL and other involved parties:
- Demonstrated ability to occupy self for part of the day with minimal
staff direction. Examples are: working on homework for one hour; engaging
in crafts in a constructive fashion without peer conflict for one hour at a
time; reading a book, writing or drawing without staff intervention for one
hour.
- Incur no physical fights with peers for past 60 days.
- Be able to read, understand and follow written
instructions after some training in the program. Examples are how to
complete: the GED test, student handbook for school, application for Job
Corps, and employment applications.
- Be able to maintain personal hygiene without staff intervention.
- Incur no substance use/abuse for past 60 days.
- Be capable of learning to use public transportation and be trustworthy
to do so.
A transition plan is completed prior to the
placement of a current El Pueblo resident in a “Transition House”. For direct
admission residents, a comprehensive case service plan is prepared focusing on
transition needs and skills.
Treatment Reviews
Treatment progress is reviewed in a monthly staffing that
includes parents, the caseworker or client manager, GAL and probation officer.
Removal from a Transition House
Residents shall be placed in
regular cottages in the event of the following behaviors: physical altercations,
expulsion from public school, bringing contraband into a Transition House,
committing a legal crime in the community or on campus; repeated refusal to
participate in house committees or house meetings; suicide gesture; runaway; or
demonstrating a need for higher level of supervision and/or therapy.
Discharge
Criteria from a Transition House
Discharge plans will be reviewed
with all involved parties on a regular basis. Discharge shall occur when the
resident has completed the transition plan and has demonstrated the ability to
be successful living in the community.
Provisions of Care
Clinical Services
Individual Therapy
Residents at “A” level therapy
receive two individual therapy sessions per month. The focus of therapy is on
skill building for reintegration into the family and the community. Skills to be
addressed include, but are not limited to, pro-social leisure activities, peer
group affiliation, choosing friends, friends and dating, relationship skills,
family communication, responsible actions in the family and school setting,
vocational interests, and work ethics.
A comprehensive Plan for a
Healthy Lifestyle is completed by the resident and presented to all involved
parties. The plan, after being approved by the parent and caseworker, is
followed by a Discharge Plan prepared jointly by the resident and family. The
Discharge Plan includes safety planning and must be approved by the caseworker
or client manager, probation, and GAL.
Family Involvement
Residents participate in one
family therapy session per month. The family is an integral part of the
treatment process and helps the resident in identifying needs and solutions for
living in the community. Parent groups are held regularly and parent training
may be provided as needed.
Residents’ families will be
invited to attend special events. Visits may take place in the “Transition
House”. Parents may take the residents on frequent off-campus visits and are
expected to communicate to staff the outcomes of the visit upon return.
Therapists and house staff will maintain regular communication with families to
assist in the process of reintegration. All family therapy shall be conducted
with a Master’s level therapist.
Group Therapy
Residents will participate in
one group therapy per week. Skills to be addressed include, but are not limited
to, peer group affiliation, choosing friends, friends and dating, relationship
skills, family communication, responsible actions in the family and school
setting.
Psychiatric Services
Medication Management/Psychiatric services are provided on
a monthly basis.
Medical Services
El Pueblo’s nurse shall conduct
sick call for residents of the Transition Program upon request. All El Pueblo
residents receive medical, dental, and vision services through community
providers.
Milieu
Services
Residents shall receive instruction in life skills such as: learning study
skills; cooking, cleaning, personal appearance, job applications and interviews,
budgeting, banking procedures e.g. checking and saving accounts; use of public
transportation; applying for community college and financial aid; applying for
Job Corps; renting an apartment and setting up utilities; and other skills
pertinent to the individual’s needs.
Daily
Routine
Residents are involved in decisions and planning
activities for group living. This provides an opportunity for them to practice
skills they are learning, and to demonstrate responsibility and self-direction.
Residents have varied schedules based upon their educational or work program.
However, residents are required to sign in and out whenever they are approved
for off-campus purposes.
House Budget
Each Transition House has a
set sum of money allocated each month for activities. This includes food for
barbeques, family social night, renting movies or video games, and off campus
activities. Residents who are earning money must pay for their own movies. In
order to learn and manage their money, residents are taught and expected to
plan for the month rather than to depend upon the recreation department to
provide money for activities.
Money
Management
Residents who earn money through work shall be assisted
with opening a checking account. They may also obtain an account through El
Pueblo. Residents shall work with staff in managing their money. They shall be
required to build their savings for discharge or emancipation.
House Meetings
House meetings are held weekly. A resident and a staff
member jointly lead the meeting. The meeting follows an agenda and the residents
discuss plans for the coming week. The other “house committee” participants also
address any issues involving residents’ activities, the house budget,
organization and review of the chore list, any plans for family visits, and
leisure activity requests.
House
Committees
Each resident is required to
serve on a variety of “house committees.” Each of the committees is led by a
staff member, and each committee is viewed as a team consisting of at least two
residents and one staff member. Typically, the resident serves on a committee
for two weeks before participating on a different committee. It is expected
that the resident shall have served on all of the committees before he/she
leaves the Transition Program. Committee examples are:
Safety Committee -
conducts regular inspections of the building and grounds and reports any
safety concern, which includes contraband.
Housekeeping Committee - inspects the building and
grounds every day and reports any problems related to cleanliness and
sanitation, including residents’ chores. This committee also inspects for
property damage, completes repair requests, and reports any property damage as
an issue in a community group.
Social
Events Committee - plans the menu and entertainment for various social
events, such as family nights, Friday night socials, and weekend barbecues.
Plans for leisure activities are also reviewed at the house meeting.
Peer Representatives
Peer representatives are
elected by the residents every two weeks with staff mediation in the event of
disputes or hidden agendas. Peer representatives are responsible to attend the
first ten to fifteen minutes of staff team meetings at which time they may
present any requests, suggestions or concerns that the residents have about the
program. The peer representatives then communicate staff responses to the
residents via the house meeting. Peer representatives lead the house meeting
and keep the records of reports from house committee meetings. Every two weeks,
when rotating house committees assignment, peer representatives record the
changes. Peer representatives are also responsible to greet any guests on the
campus for social events and demonstrate the social skills of a good
host/hostess. All residents are required to take their turn as a peer
representative.
Peer Mentors
Upper level residents serve as
a peer mentor for new residents entering the program. The peer mentor’s
responsibility is to help the new resident learn and understand all aspects of
the program, and help them become comfortable and acquainted with their peers
and staff.
Recreation
and Leisure Therapy Services
Residents in the Transition Program shall participate in, on- and off-campus
recreation activities. Recreation services are provided by recreation
specialists and are structured, supervised activities, designed to increase each
resident’s interest in pro-social leisure activities.
Education Services
Residents’ educational needs are addressed on an
individual basis. Residents may take a GED preparation classes; vocational
training program through Pueblo Community College, or attend public school. Some
residents will attend El Pueblo’s on campus school during an assessment period
and pending acceptance into other educational settings. Residents’ in the
Transition Program may participate in extra-curricular activities through the
public school if approved by referral sources, parents and/or guardian.
Activities may include choir, drama, sports, and other school sanctioned
clubs/activities.
Vocational Services
Staff shall work with residents
in identifying vocational interests and opportunities. Resident in the
Transition Program shall be assisted in obtaining off-campus employment.
Appropriate community agencies will be accessed. Staff shall monitor residents’
progress in the world of work. Services will align with IDEA ’97 reauthorization
on transition planning for residents with IEPs.
Page last updated:
11/10/2006 - elr | 
A Licensed Provider by the
