Success is a Choice
The Children’s Center of Ohio believes that each child has infinite potential for success. The unified goal existing between the agencies we serve and The Children's Center of Ohio must be to provide children with opportunities that lead to success. It is the belief that crisis must be stabilized, responsibility must be taken, beliefs challenged, and behaviors altered, to create an environment for change. The cycle cannot be broken unless the existing behaviors that perpetuate its advance are eliminated. This change must occur before the problematic behaviors can be replaced with pro-social attitudes and behaviors. The mandate for success cannot be limited to distance, time, or convenience. Family involvement, agency proximity, and community worker availability are important factors. However, we have shown time after time that if core issues are not resolved, then all other factors will remain just that – FACTORS – until the child is able to see the same potential we see, wraparound services will be useless. At The Children’s Center of Ohio we have designed our program to facilitate the progression of change, the change that is lasting, and the change we have been fostering since our beginnings.
Mended Reeds Mental Health
We have developed a partnership with Mended Reeds Mental Health whereby they place licensed counselors, social workers and nurses in our program. We have a psychologist and a psychiatrist provided to us when services are needed. The counseling curriculum includes, but is not limited to, group and individual counseling targeting aggression, social skills, moral development, relationships, decision making skills, abuse and med-somatic services. The youth also receive individual counseling where they become responsible for the issues addressed through activities in the setting of their treatment goals and the achievement of their goals.
TASC of Southeast Ohio
A bridge between justice and treatment.
Visitation
Regular on-campus family visitations are scheduled during the first and third Sundays of each month from 1-4p.m. At this time, parents are able to visit with their child as well as meet with counselors and staff members to discuss the progress of their child within the program. Family counseling sessions (led by the counselors) are available at this time. If more time is needed sessions may be scheduled throughout the week to help work around the parents work schedule. Special hours to visit can be scheduled in order to accommodate the parents work schedule or if the parent has to travel a great distance to attend. Families are encouraged to attend visitations as well as various special activities, such as athletic events, cookouts and recreational events. When a youth earns Progress Phase they are able to earn weekend home visits. The youth is allowed an overnight stay with their parent or guardian in order to prepare the youth, as well as, the family for the child’s eventual return to the home. This is the time that the youth can use the skills they have learned in the program to better express their thoughts and feelings to their parents. The home visit is a time when the youth can work through problems and deal with conflicts as they arise in their home environment.
After Tracking
It is the belief of The Children’s Center of Ohio that a successful return to the community is the goal of the treatment process. To this end, The Children’s Center of Ohio will provide support, counseling, and services for reconnection to the community. Each child graduating the program shall receive two phone calls per week, and at least one monthly face to face visit. The visit may include speaking with support persons in the community, school, job, etc. After Tracking/ Continuous Care shall last for a period of six months, beginning at the date of discharge, or until the child reaches the age of eighteen. After Tracking/ Continuous Care is provided at no cost to the placing agency
Independent Living Skills
All children placed at The Children's Center receive various skills that will aid in their passage through life. These independent living skills allow children the opportunity to see their self worth, and ability to manage their own daily living situation. Skills are taught in each of the following areas: When a youth earns Progress Phase they are able to earn weekend home visits. The youth is allowed an overnight stay with their parent or guardian in order to prepare the youth, as well as, the family for the child’s eventual return to the home. This is the time that the youth can use the skills they have learned in the program to better express their thoughts and feelings to their parents. The home visit is a time when the youth can work through problems and deal with conflicts as they arise in their home environment. Basic housekeeping skills (sweeping, mopping, cleaning, laundry, simple sewing meal planning and preparation) Basic vehicle maintenance (changing a flat tire, changing oil, checking air filters and belts) Basic home maintenance (patching holes in the wall, changing door knobs, sanding, painting, lawn care (mowing, seeding, raking leaves), gardening, setting flower beds, landscaping)
Community Involvement / Community Service
Our youth are involved in the community through off-campus work assignments (lawn maintenance and various services for the elderly, churches etc.) Through these work assignments, if necessary, our youth are able to work off community service hours or earn money for restitution as designated by the court, as well as, learn the importance of giving back to the community. In conjunction, our youth internalize the worth of citizenship and community responsibility. Various religious leaders from our community lead voluntary on-campus Sunday morning Bible studies for our youth. Our children also have the opportunity to voluntarily attend religious services in a variety of types of churches throughout our community.