The purpose of placement in a YRC II is to improve the youth's decision-making, coping skills, social skills, and to address any underlying problems that are effecting the youth. It will also help teach the youth how to handle their behaviors in order to transition successfully back into their family and community.
In Monroe cottage, the program serves male clients ages 10 to 17 who have a well-established pattern of behavior that is anti-social, oppositional, defiant, aggressive, abusive, impulsive or high-risk in nature. Family-based services do not appropriately meet the needs of the youth in the program, and the youth do not meet the admission standards of a psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF). The youth in the program do not have needs for intensive medical or mental health services.
The program accepts youth who are awaiting a PRTF screen. Youth who have met PRTF admission standards, but have not secured treatment at a PRTF, are allowed to stay in the YRC program for up to 14 days. No more than 50% of the youth in the YRC program at any given time may have screened into a PRTF and be in the 14 day waiting period for a PRTF.
The bed capacity of the program is ten.
The YRC will be staffed around the clock, seven days a week with alert staff. The minimum required staff to client ratio will be maintained at all times.
Youthville administrative departments will provide support and services to the YRC. These departments include, but are not limited to, Human Resources, Finance, Training and Quality Management. Agency general policies related to safety, client rights, confidentiality, personnel, etc. apply to YRC - Monroe Cottage.
Unit Supervisor
The Unit Supervisor is responsible for supervising staff and ensuring that the cottage meets Youthville policy and other regulatory requirements. Supervising staff includes staff training and orientation, leading the activities of the youth care staff, overseeing the daily milieu, and developing and maintaining the staff schedule to ensure proper coverage occurs in the cottage. The Unit Supervisor manages the cottage budget and financial transactions.
YRC Case Coordinator
The YRC Case Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the youth's program and progress with school, employer, family and other appropriate community resources. Youth Care Staff: Three types, or levels, of Youth Care Workers staff the YRC. Each carries a different level of responsibility: An YCW I is responsible for providing a safe, nurturing, and emotionally secure environment, teaching daily living and social skills, assisting with cottage maintenance and supplies and helping facilitate appointments, leisure activities and transportation. An YCW II also performs the basic YCW I tasks plus mentoring the staff, providing leadership to the cottage, facilitating psycho-social interventions and assisting in communicating weekly feedback to clients. An YCW III assists with cottage management activities, implements orientation and care activities and assists the Unit Supervisor with staff training, orientation and supervision.
Activity Workers
Activity Workers are responsible for providing recreation, life skills, social and emotional expression/exploration services designed to meet each individual clients' needs.
Chaplain
The Chaplain is responsible for assessing a client's spiritual needs and providing services to meet those needs.
Therapist
Mental health services will primarily be provided by community mental health centers. An on-campus therapist will be available to provide crisis management services on an as needed basis.
Medical Personnel: Medical staff is responsible for completing initial health screenings, health or KBH assessment as indicated or required, on-going monitoring of health care needs, psychiatric medication services as needed and maintaining client medical records.
The YRC is not a treatment facility and is physically separated from other residential treatment facilities. Daily living activities and recreational activities are provided separate from service provision to residential treatment clients.
Our facility is not a "locked facility," this means that we are not able to physically stop a client from leaving the campus unless the youth poses a threat to him/herself or others as determined by the YRC team. If a youth is placed on safety protocol, their access to objects that have the potential to be used for self-harm or to harm others will be limited. Youth on safety protocol have less access to areas outside of their cottage and have a higher level of supervision by staff. Safety Protocol is a short-term intervention that usually lasts no more than a few days. If a youth does leave the campus without permission, the police department will be immediately notified to help with locating the child.
Safe, Nurturing, Learning Environment
Youthville respects the youth we serve and their families/caregivers and our goal is to protect the rights of our clients. We will provide care in a manner intended to be respectful of personal values and beliefs and is sensitive to cultural, racial, religious and other differences. We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or any disability.
We provide clients equal and fair access to reasonable care and accommodations. We respect privacy, confidentiality and dignity at all times. Clients may accept or refuse any procedure, drug or treatment. Explanation of the potential results of any such refusal in easy to understand terms will be provided. We will answer any question that may be posed about who is involved in the care of your child and what their relationship is to Youthville. Clients are able to receive visitors, mail, telephone calls, and other forms of communication; unless they must be restricted due to safety or treatment issues. Clients may discuss concerns with staff at any time. In addition, a 24-hour grievance phone line is available to all individuals. This will not in any way interfere with a client's care now or in the future.
A social learning and motivation system, STARS, will be used in the YRC - Monroe Cottage to provide ongoing learning experiences for clients. This system allows for continual feedback and recognition for positive behaviors with tangible rewards. Clients will be able to quickly move through levels of learning (color system).
Daily Living Services
Daily living services include, but are not limited to the following: room, board, personal spending money, school fees, transportation to appointments (within 60 mile radius) and other academic activities.
Situation Training
Situation training to include, but not limit to, personal hygiene, health and consumer education for independent living.
Communication Skills
The youth build communication skills by articulating thoughts and feelings through appropriate use of speech, writing and telephone use.
Home Management
Home management skills include, but are not limited to, making the bed and changing linens, using the vacuum cleaner, dusting and cooking complete meals.
Situational Guidance
Situational guidance to accept responsibility, give and receive feedback, tolerance and build on personal strengths.
Recreation
Recreation activities such as community projects, social groups, sporting events and indoor/outdoor activities are utilized to develop social skills and teach constructive and healthy life alternatives.
Educational
Martin K. Eby Learning Center (Eby) is a joint venture between Youthville and USD #373, Newton, KS. Eby is a fully accredited public school. Eby provides education for our PRTF and YRC youth who are both regular education and special education students from 3rd grade through 12th grade.
Eby meets the educational needs of its students through standard courses, as well as specialized services. Many students that attend Eby require remediation in both math and reading. These needs are addressed through Individualized Computer Lab courses and classroom instruction. Special Education services may also be required. Students' academic needs are met through a targeted curriculum and behavioral needs are met through a social skills teaching model. YRC students are taught by certified teaching staff who are employees of USD 373.
Admission and Assessment
The YRC Case Coordinator will complete an assessment for each client and orient the client to the cottage environment, expectations and the daily milieu. Nursing staff will complete a nursing assessment to ensure adequate medical services are provided. The assessment process is designed to identify the strengths and needs of the clients and to determine appropriate services.
Service Planning and Coordination
The YRC Case Coordinator will ensure that appropriate services are provided to clients while in the YRC. A program plan and individual crisis management plan will be developed to guide the individual program. These plans will focus on meeting the immediate needs of the client and preparing them for their next placement. Crisis management services will be provided to clients as needed by on-campus staff. Mental health needs will be referred to the case management entity and will usually be provided through community mental health services. Services will be documented through the YRC Milieu Note and YRC Weekly Reviews. Discharge planning will occur on an ongoing basis with the YRC Case Coordinator and the client's case manager.
Medical Services
Youthville will ensure that all clients have access to physical health care for preventative, routine and emergency services. When possible, routine medical services will be provided by Youthville. When necessary, clients will be referred to external providers in collaboration with the case management entity. Medication administration will be provided by trained youth care worker staff and monitored by nursing staff. Medical services, medical documentation, and related medical activities will adhere to all decisions made by the Youthville Medical Committee.
Client Safety
Monroe Cottage strives to maximize the safety of all clients. Staff is certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention with a re-certification process every 6 months. This certification provides staff the ability to use verbal de-escalation skills and quickly identify safety concerns. The Individual Crisis Management Plan provides daily guidance on client triggers and effective interventions. Youthville also offers crisis management services when needed. Staff utilize a system of safety protocols, safety levels and risk assessments when there are significant safety concerns. The use of physical restraint or seclusion may be used when the client demonstrates an overt threat of harm to self or others.