Day Treatment Handbook for Families and Providers

Devereux Cleo Wallace8405 Church Ranch Blvd. Westminster, CO 80021

(800) 456-CLEO (303) 466-7391

Devereux Colorado8405 Church Ranch Blvd., Westminster, CO 80021

(800) 456- CLEO (303) 466-7391www.cleowallace.org

Devereux Colorado Mission Statement The mission of Devereux Colorado, the Cleo Wallace Center is to inspire growth and foster human potential in the lives of those we serve. By utilizing positive dynamic approaches to individualized, evidence-based services, we promote health and success. Our programs are recognized nationally as models of excellence in the provision of compassionate Human Services.

Our Mantra We inspire growth. We foster human potential. We promote health and success with compassion.

A Better Life Devereux Colorado is part of the Devereux Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest non-profit providers of behavioral health care services. Considered a leader in the field of mental health, Devereux Colorado serves children and adolescents ages 8 to 21 with psychiatric treatment needs. At Devereux Colorado, we are devoted to making a difference by enhancing the lives of our clients - Opening doors for a better life.

General Information Devereux Colorado is the Rocky Mountain region’s premier facility for the treatment of psychiatric, emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents. We offer a wide range of treatment programs including residential and day treatment services. While in treatment, your child will be involved in a highly structured schedule with clearly defined goals for tracking progress. Each student will be involved in weekly individual therapy and family therapy as needed. Each student will be taught the skills needed to change maladaptive behaviors. Devereux Colorado treats “the whole child,” and each student, in addition to formal therapy, will have the opportunity for age-appropriate school, recreational and social activities. Every activity is planned to enhance the physical, emotional and mental well being of the student. Our role in helping students and families improve the quality of their lives has made us a trusted resource for medical professionals and community agencies. All of our programs and activities reflect an abiding respect for children and great care is taken to ensure the safety, security, and comfort necessary for personal growth. It is our continued commitment to carry on the vision of our founder,"...that each child might realize his full potential as a human being." Cleo Spurlock Wallace, 1948

 

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Devereux’s Philosophy of Care While our programs are designed to provide individual care, many of our programs share basic commonalities. We are unified by an organization-wide philosophy evolved from the essential belief that “every child is a program.” Our Philosophy of Care focuses on positive approaches, individualized services and effective programming. This philosophy is our commitment to you and your family. We believe this is what makes Devereux special. 1) Positive Approaches Our primary goal is to help you develop the plan of care that best meets your needs and most critically, the needs of your child. We are committed to serving, focusing on and strengthening your family. We strive to provide your child with the knowledge, guidance and resources he or she needs to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. 2) Individual Services Although our programs are rooted in effective, evidenced-based practices, Devereux Colorado remains an organization focused on innovation. We seek new solutions to help our students realize positive results and are dedicated to doing what is right for those we serve. 3) Effective Programming We are continually working to ensure the effectiveness of our programs. We are developing ways to measure outcomes, all the while focusing on the safety and stability of the students in our care, nurturing their individual potential and helping them to develop their resilience to lead fulfilling, productive and rewarding lives.

Communication Communication is a crucial aspect of treatment and is the most effective way to ensure lasting change within the student. In other words, home and school can work together to help your family achieve your goals. For example, if your child has a very difficult night at home, it is important that school knows this information so they may talk to your child about this. Conversely, if your child has a difficult day at school, it is important that you know so you can talk at home. Most importantly, rewards, incentives and privileges need to remain constant throughout both environments. The Devereux Colorado School utilizes many avenues of communication to ensure all information is exchanged between school and home. The most common ways are “back and forth” books, emails and voicemails. Please talk with your child’s teacher about which method is preferred.

 

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Positive Behavioral Support (PBS)

Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is a research-based program created to define and teach expectations to students in a proactive and supportive manner. Students are explicitly taught expectations in all environments on campus in an effort to address difficult behavior before it occurs. When challenging behavior occurs, it is utilized as a learning opportunity for staff, families and providers to create proactive strategies to teach appropriate behaviors and interactions. Students receive a variety of positive reinforcement and rewards when they demonstrate the expectations to increase the likelihood of positive behaviors occurring in the future. The program has a three-tier approach to allow students to receive universal, targeted and individualized levels of support when appropriate. The Positive Behavior Support program has shown tremendous success in numerous schools around the nation including over 540 schools in more than 60 school districts in Colorado alone. Devereux Colorado looks to continue the success of PBS as a pilot Positive Behavioral Support residential program with the Colorado Department of Education. We began the first steps of implementation in February 2008 and are excited about the growth and potential this program will continue to offer us. Cougar Paws A student receives a hole punch in their Cougar Paw Card when they demonstrate:

Care about self and others

Are responsible

Respect people and property

Encourage safety

Once all twelve holes of a card have been hole-punched, students turn them into staff that then logs twelve dollars into the student’s token store account. Students spend theses dollars once a week during their classroom’s scheduled token store time. Staff also places the card into a bin for weekly classroom drawings. After the weekly drawing, everyone’s tickets will go into a larger bin for our two month assembly with larger prizes.

 

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Education Care about self

and others Are

responsible Respect people

and property Encourage

safety

Classroom Actively participate

Work cooperatively

Strive for excellence

Be prepared Be a positive

peer Use materials

for their intended purpose

Raise your hand

Be an active listener

Keep an arm’s length between yourself and others

Address concerns with staff

Take space if you are frustrated

Follow directions

Transition Time Work as a

cooperative group

Follow the person in front of you

Be a positive peer leader

Move quietly to your destination

Keep an arm’s length between yourself and others

Stay with the group

Follow directions

Structured Activity

Actively participate

Strive for excellence

Treat equipment with care

Clean up area and put equipment away

Display positive sportsmanship

Keep an arm’s length between yourself and others

Include others

Stay with staff Take space if

you are frustrated

Play safely

Library Work together to find materials

Return items in a timely fashion

Use a quiet voice tone

Care for materials

Use materials for their intended purposes

Teicher Wash your hands Eat a well

balanced diet

Stack your tray Clean and wipe

your area Push in your

chair

Practice positive table manners

Say please and thank you

Stay with your group

Turn in utensils

Bathrooms Wait your turn

Throw trash in the trash can

Turn off the sink and lights

Flush the toilet

Use the toilet and sink for the intended purpose

Wash your hands

Have staff check the bathroom before and after use

Medication Time

Take your meds

Complete a mouth check

Wait your turn Be kind

Stay in designated areas during med time

 

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Prosocial Support System Devereux Colorado trains its staff to establish and maintain a safe and warm therapeutic environment. Our treatment process works to encourage positive social behavior. This is achieved by increasing positive behavior, decreasing negative behavior and teaching new behavior. Staff responds to behavior by using positive feedback and predictable consequences. When providing feedback, the staff focuses on reinforcing positive behavior. Forms of positive feedback include:

Verbal Praise: It is crucial to notice and acknowledge when students are doing well. Staff is trained to acknowledge and praise positive feedback when a student is successful. This motivates the student to do well more often and in turn, decreases problematic behavior. Making “time-in” matter: It is very important to create an environment where students are motivated and excited about their treatment. This includes providing activities that are therapeutic and fun, encouragement to maintain appropriate and meaningful relationships with others and feeling respected and supported by staff members. Earning points through the level system: Points earned through Devereux Colorado’s level system, students have opportunities to earn additional privileges and advance levels. Positive behaviors are reinforced and students are awarded for participation in treatment.

Additionally, staff utilizes predictable consequences to decrease the likelihood that negative behaviors will be repeated. Forms of consequence include:

Reduction in privileges Restrictions from preferred activities Suspension of levels Loss of earned points

If a student’s behavior is escalating and/or out of control, Behavior Management Strategies are used which may include one or more of the following:

Verbal Warning/Prompt: If a student says or does something considered to be inappropriate, they will be “prompted” on the unacceptable behavior and given suggestions on alternative behaviors. Time Out: Students are shown how to use time out to regain personal control and eliminate reinforcement for disruptive behavior. If a student cannot use time out appropriately, continues the negative behavior or escalates, he/she will be asked to remove himself/herself from the situation to a designated space determined by staff. This is done to reduce environmental stimulation and provides the student with a safe place to regain control. Time out may be taken by sitting away from the group, being in their room or by being in a Quiet Room, depending on the severity of the student’s behavior. The door is not locked during a quiet room session. Quiet Room: A quiet room is a designated room free of personal belongings or materials. It is typically used following a time out or when a student becomes dangerous to him/herself. Physical Restraint: Physical management is a trained procedure for containing the behavior of a student who is physically out of control or who poses a danger to themselves or others. This is to be used as a last resort when verbal and less restrictive interventions have been proven unsuccessful and the student is presenting a danger to themselves or others. This procedure is done by extensively trained staff as well as routinely reviewed by licensing agencies.

 

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Medication Policy for Day Treatment Students 1. Will I be informed if my child is put on a new medication? The need for medication is assessed carefully by the Devereux Colorado psychiatrist. Medications are prescribed only after careful evaluation and only after a parent/guardian has been consulted and has given written permission. Should your child need medication, the psychiatrist will discuss with you the medication in detail and answer any questions you might have. Medication handouts are also given to parents. Psychiatrists closely monitor how the medication and specific dosage are affecting the child and if any changes are needed, they will consult the parent/guardian for their consent before any adjustments are made. 2. How do I get my prescriptions filled? Call your pharmacy directly. Your pharmacy will contact our nursing department. If you are having difficulties getting a prescription filled, please call residential nursing at: (303) 438-2206. 3. What if my child is taking a medication that is given during school hours? If your child is being cared for by one of the psychiatrists at Devereux Colorado, the medication given on Devereux Colorado premises will have a separate written prescription than those you will give at home. Please bring the medication to the Devereux Colorado nursing department in the bottle it was dispensed in. We can no longer accept medication unless it is in the original prescription bottle. If your child is being seen by a psychiatrist outside the Devereux Colorado facility, the medications that are given during school hours should be brought into the nursing department in a bottle labeled correctly by the pharmacy with the student’s name, the pharmacy name, medication name, the date the medication was issued and the expiration date. The nursing department cannot accept medications in unlabeled containers, incorrectly labeled containers or containers of which the label has expired. 4. What if my child needs blood drawn? A prescription needs to be written by your doctor or psychiatrist. We may provide the prescription but we DO NOT draw blood on the Devereux Colorado campus. This has to be done by an outside office. The results need to be faxed to the nursing department at (303) 438-2442 or a copy may be brought directly to the nursing department. Reminders: Please call your Pharmacy 7-10 days in advance when supply is low. For medication distributed during school hours, nursing will contact you when the medication supply is low and needs to be re-filled. You then contact the pharmacy and the new medication (with bottle) needs to be brought to Devereux Colorado and given to the nursing department. Students are not permitted to bring their own medication to school. All medications are to be dispensed ONLY through the nursing department. We do not accept medications that parents/guardians “hand off” to transportation providers to bring to Devereux Colorado’s nursing department.

 

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The Academic Program Education staff work as members of the treatment team and support each student’s treatment plan. The program provides individualized education for students from elementary through high school and is in session daily. Classes are taught by certified teachers and paraprofessionals. In small classes (approximately 12 students each), instruction is tailored to each student’s academic skills and strengths. During the school day, students receive whole class, small group and individualized instruction. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding your child’s educational program. Educational screening is done for each student and an Education Plan is completed for students who do not qualify for special education services. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is completed within 30 days of admission for students receiving special education services. Educational testing is conducted as needed. Within 72 hours of discharge, students receive a report card, which summarizes their participation in the school program. An educational liaison is also available to help with the transition when your child returns to public school. Please contact the educational liaison, clinician or teacher if you need this assistance.

 

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2012-2013 School Year Calendar

Term #1: August 14, 2012 – October 19, 2012 August

August 14: First Term begins First Day of school for day treatment students in Gilpin School District August 17: Report cards due from Summer Term August 20: First Day of School for day treatment students in the following school districts: Adams 12, Jeffco, Clear Creek, and Platte

September

September 3: No school - Labor Day October

October 22 : No School – Teacher professional Day October 23 :Term 2 begins

Term #2: October 23, 2012 – January 4, 2012 November

November 2: Report cards due from Term November 29 and 30: No school - Thanksgiving Break

December December 24 and 25: No School – Christmas December 28: Term 2 ends December 31: No school- New Years Eve

Term #3: January 2, 2013 - March 15, 2013 January

January 1 : No School- New Years Day January 7: No School – Teacher Professional Day

January 11: Report cards due from Term 2 February School Calendar Continued on Next Page

 

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Term #4: March 19, 2013 – May 24, 2013 March

March 18: Monday No School - Teacher Professional Day March 22: Report Cards Due

March 20: Term #4 begins April May

May 27: No School - Memorial Day Summer Term #5: May 28, 2013 – August 16, 2013 June

June 3: No School - Teacher professional Day June 7: Report Cards Due from Term 4

July July 4: No School – 4th of July

August August 16: Summer Term #5 ends

August 19: No School - Teacher Professional Day August 23: Report cards due from Summer Term

 

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Campus Rules The following rules are intended to provide standards for every student to follow. There should never be a deviation by any student, even if they are on a higher level. Dress Code: The following items are not permitted to be worn: tank tops, spaghetti straps, half shirts, any clothing showing excessive body exposure, hats, bandanas, caps, inappropriate logos, accessories with writing or pictures that demean others in any way or depicts illegal or illicit themes such as drugs, alcohol, violence, or sexual references, and clothing or jewelry that could be dangerous to the wearer or others such as spiked items or certain body piercings (tongue, lip, nose or any facial piercings). Up to 2 earrings are permitted in each ear ONLY. Shorts and skirts must be longer than the student’s arm length. Students must have proper footwear. Examples of how students should demonstrate C.A.R.E.: RESPECT – we expect you, as well as your peers and the staff, to respect others. This

includes respecting others privacy, personal boundaries, property and treatment issues. Follow staff directions. Only one person in the bathroom at a time. Use appropriate language. Chairs and tables are only to be used for their intended purposes. Gum and sunflower seeds are to remain off campus. Running and gymnastics are only permitted in an outdoor setting. Unless used to label your own property with your initials, writing utensils should only be

used on paper and for school related purposes. Refrain from passing notes. Avoid lending, borrowing, trading or gift giving. Personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses, or mailing addresses should

be kept privately to yourself. Abstain from gang-related writing, drawing, talking, signs or glorifying. Abstain from drug-related writing, drawing, talking or glorifying outside of prescription drug

education or related therapy groups. Food, drink and hygiene products are to remain outside of the classroom unless given staff

permission. Avoid communication with peers in “time-out” or at a desk working on “treatment refocus.” Electronic equipment such as iPods, Gameboys, radios, CD players, small televisions, cell

phones and beepers are to be checked upon arrival. In the event that a student commits a crime, law enforcement may be contacted.

 

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Transportation We do not provide transportation for our Day Treatment students. It is your responsibility to arrange transportation plans, which is usually done at intake with your school district. If your child is unable to attend for some reason, you must notify their transportation and classroom by 10 a.m. Generally speaking, Day Treatment students are not permitted to use their own form of independent transportation (cars, any type of motorized vehicle, bikes, and etc.) If there is a safety issue and your child is suspended from or not allowed to take the district transportation arranged, for any reason, you will be responsible for dropping/picking them up. District Phone Numbers: Adams 12: 720-972-4300 Boulder: (303) 447-5125 Clear Creek: (303) 597-3865 Gilpin: (720) 562-3155 Jefferson County: (303) 982-2324 Logistic Care: 1(800) 284-5150 Platte: (303) 838-7666 ext. 1270 St. Vrain: (303) 682-7228

Discharge Planning Discharge planning starts the first day a student arrives on campus. You will be working closely with the entire treatment team to determine what services are available in your community so your child will be successful upon discharge. Support in the community has shown to be a significant factor in a student’s continuing success once leaving our program. An outpatient psychiatrist and therapist to your liking can be difficult to find, and often psychiatrist’s schedules are full up to three months for new students. Please plan ahead of time so your child may start the relationship with a new psychiatrist and a new therapist before discharge. Also, please remember to address what type of support you as a parent may need. When students leave our program, it is one of the most vulnerable parts of the treatment process. Transition meetings should be held with the student, parent, school district (including the school where the student may be attending), Devereux Colorado staff and all other outside agencies well before a student is discharged.

If a Day Treatment Student Makes a Suicidal Comment When a student makes a suicidal comment, a Suicide Assessment will be completed by a trained Devereux Colorado professional. Regardless of the outcome of the Suicide Assessment, the student cannot go home until family/guardian has been contacted to inform them of the ideation or gesture. To ensure a safe transition home, a responsible family member must be at home to receive the student. If a responsible family member is unavailable to receive the student, the student will remain at Devereux Colorado until arrangements can be made. Please remember, if clinically indicated, you may be required by Devereux Colorado to come to campus to pick up your child and to meet with their primary clinician. Students cannot leave campus or go home without a cleared Suicide Assessment.

 

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Questions and Answers 1. What is a “treatment team?” The treatment team is a group of mental health professionals who work together with the student and the family to assess and evaluate the student, set treatment plan goals and provide treatment. Every member of the treatment team brings their perspective and specialized skills to develop an individual treatment plan for each student. The team usually includes the following people:

Parents: You are a pivotal member of the treatment team. You will be ask to participate in all treatment related decisions and your opinions are very valuable. No one knows your child as well as you do.

Clinician: Your child will be assigned a clinician who will be your child’s primary therapist and will work with the psychiatrist to lead the treatment team. The therapist is a Master’s level clinician or a psychologist and will be one of your family’s main contacts with Devereux Colorado.

Case Coordinator: The case coordinator coordinates discharge planning and acts as a liaison between family and community resources. The Case Coordinator is responsible for the management of and is involved in all areas of the child’s treatment.

Psychiatrist: A specially trained Medical Doctor, the psychiatrist will have overall responsibility for the psychiatric management of your child’s treatment.

Nursing Staff: Consists of a Nurse Manager, registered nurses, medical technicians and a medication coordinator. This group of professionals attends to your child’s medical needs in coordination with both the psychiatrists and the pediatrician.

Pediatrician: A Medical Doctor who is specially trained to treat the medical needs of students to age 21.

Mental Health Worker/Paraprofessional: Team members who are responsible for providing a safe and therapeutic milieu in accordance with the student’s treatment plans. They may also assist the teacher in the classroom throughout the day.

Teaching Staff: Under the supervision of the Principal, the teaching staff consists of an educational liaison, certified teachers and paraprofessionals.

School District: The school district representative helps guide the treatment while in Day Treatment, and is also a pivotal member of the team for a successful transition plan.

2. Can we use our own psychiatrist or are we required to utilize Devereux Colorado’s? We understand that finding a psychiatrist is a difficult task and if you already have a psychiatrist that you and your child prefer, please continue utilizing their services. During the intake process, you will work with your intake clinician to determine whether or not you wish to use Devereux Colorado’s psychiatrist.

 

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3. How can the family help? Support your child’s treatment. Many students are fearful of treatment and may deny that they need it. Your support and encouragement can be very helpful in overcoming your child’s fear. In addition, you can help by becoming familiar with your child’s treatment needs and by learning the warning signs, which may indicate problems in the future. Lastly, ensure that your child takes medication according to the schedule provided by your doctor. 4. How often do I meet with the Treatment Team? You will be invited to meet with the Treatment Team once per month at the Treatment Plan Review (TPR). Your case coordinator, clinician, psychiatrist and teachers/paraprofessionals will be present at that time and all questions about treatment and educational progress can be addressed at that time. However, if there are urgent matters you wish to discuss before or after the TPR, arrangements may be made by contacting the treatment team member directly. Individual therapy takes place with your child and the clinician weekly. Family therapy occurs on an as needed basis and will be arranged with your primary clinician. 5. When I have a question, whom should I call? We want you to know as much as possible about Devereux Colorado and the care we provide. For general inquiries about the program, you can call our front office and they will connect you to the person who can best answer your question. If it is a specific question relating to your child and their treatment program, we recommend that you directly contact their case coordinator, clinician, psychiatrist or teacher. We encourage you to learn about our programs and your child’s progress. 6. Who do I call when my child will be missing school? Please notify your child’s homeroom teacher when your child is out sick, leaving early or arriving late to school, no later than 10 a.m. You are also responsible for notifying the District transportation if they no longer need a ride to/from school. 7. What can my child bring to school? We realize that some students have long bus rides and need various forms of entertainment. Therefore, students are permitted to bring items such as cell phones, personal music players (iPods, CD players, etc.) and personal gaming systems (Nintendo DS, Gameboy, etc.) to school but they will be checked in upon arrival. No student is permitted to have money with them unless needed for transportation. School materials such as books, writing utensils, notebooks, paper, etc. will be provided by Devereux Colorado. All checked items will be placed in a locked room throughout the duration of the school day. Devereux Colorado will not be held responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items. 8. Where does my child get dropped off/picked up at school? If you are dropping off or picking up your child at school, please do so at the East end of school at the loading zone. If you need to drop off your child late or pick them up early, please stop by the front entrance and notify administration.

 

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9. Is Devereux Colorado a year–round program? Yes. However, in order to attend our program throughout the summer term, your child must be approved by the school district for extended school year services through the IEP process.

 

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Contact Information

Devereux Cleo Wallace 8405 Church Ranch Blvd. Westminster, CO 80021 (303) 466-7391 (800) 456-CLEO Fax (303) 466-0904 Nursing: (303) 438-2206 Intake: (303) 438-2208 Campus Support: (720) 272-6835 Teacher____________________________________________________________________ Name Phone # Email Case ______________________________________________________________________ Coordinator Name Phone # Email Clinician___________________________________________________________________ Name Phone # Email Psychiatrist________________________________________________________________ Name Phone # Email