MISSION STATEMENT:
It is the mission of St. Augustine Youth
Services to provide a safe, structured, therapeutic environment in
which each child may be assisted in acquiring more effective coping and
communication skills while learning appropriate and functional behavior.
These goals are to be pursued within the
context of the child’s family, whenever possible, in order to
strengthen existing bonds and promote a healthier support system for
the child.
For children with no family support, it
is the intent of St. Augustine Youth Services to prepare the individual
child to function more effectively in a less restrictive setting within
the community. Transition to a Specialized Therapeutic Foster Home,
Foster Home, Adoptive Placement or Independent Living situation will be
pursued with consideration to each child’s needs and goals. |
PHILOSOPHY OF TREATMENT:
Due to the complexities of our society, we
recognize that the developmental process is very difficult for children
and adolescents. This, combined with beginning life in a nonexistent or
dysfunctional family, can often result in emotional disturbance. It is
our philosophy that the majority of the children experiencing emotional
disturbance are depressed due to the abuse and deprivation experienced
in their lives. Frequently, these feelings are acted out,
resulting in negative consequences. These children have learned
inappropriate and dysfunctional behaviors, finding it difficult to
function effectively in relationship to peers, school, family, and
society. The child finds it difficult to trust others and
frequently fears further rejection.
SAYS provides a safe, structured, therapeutic
environment to assist each child in unlearning inappropriate and
dysfunctional behavior and in acquiring more effective coping and
communication skills. We believe that the family must be actively
involved in the treatment process in order to allow the child to work
through many of his treatment issues. Family therapy, home
visits, regular visitation and communication with staff are strongly
encouraged to achieve these ends.
These goals are achieved through the use
of a series of treatment components. These components include:
psychological testing, individual and group therapy, family therapy and
parent training, social skills training, social rehabilitation and
aftercare planning.
It is the role of SAYS houseparents to
model effective parenting and functional family patterns to the
children. SAYS staff must develop an empathetic, unconditional,
trusting relationship with each cild to allow the child to feel the
security and trust needed to move through his treatment issues with as
little anxiety as possible. |
AGENCY DESCRIPTION
St.
Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) provides community-based therapeutic
residential services to 28 emotionally handicapped boys ages six to 18.
SAYS assists its resident in understanding and resolving emotional
conflicts, in developing more functional and adaptive behaviors, and in
acquiring more effective coping and communication skills. These goals
are achieved through a series of treatment components which are
provided by a board-certified child psychiatrist, licensed clinical
psychologist, master’s level therapist licensed mental health
counselor, trained houseparents and a youth counselor.
The treatment components include:
Evaluation
Psychological testing
Individual and group psychotherapy and play therapy
Family therapy and parent training
Social rehabilitation
Aftercare planning
Follow up SAYS is a 24-hour, seven day per week, homelike
environment designed to provide a safe, positive and structured
therapeutic environment which assists children in unlearning
inappropriate and dysfunctional behaviors, allowing the child to
maximize his full potential. This is accomplished through a minimum of
four hours of services daily. It is the goal of SAYS to return the
child to his natural environment whenever possible. If this is not an
option, we work to assist case workers in seeking the option of
adoption. For those children for whom adoption is not appropriate, we
work with the child to develop the skills to be successfully maintained
in a less restrictive environment, such as a foster home. Prior to
discharge, SAYS wishes to work with adoptive or foster families to
which the child will be discharged for at least three months. This will
maximize the chance of success as the child is reintegrated into the
community.
Individualized treatment plans are developed and
monitored by the treatment team, which focus on the specific needs of
the child. Progress on the treatment plan and readiness for
discharge are reviewed regularly by the treatment team, as well as the
legal guardian and any other agencies working with the child.
Family therapy is viewed as an important, necessary part of the
therapeutic process and is a part of the treatment plan whenever
possible. We request that families attend therapy at least once a
week so that we may assist the family unit in developing the skills
necessary to allow the child to return to a healthy, functioning
system. Regular home visits are encouraged and a necessary component of
a successful discharge to the family.
SAYS provides for all basic needs of the child, such as food, clothing,
shelter, education, and activities within a therapeutic milieu designed
to meet the needs of emotionally disturbed children. The average length
of stay is 18 months. SAYS is located at 50 Saragossa Street, St.
Augustine, Florida, 32084. |
