|
|
Educational Staff
Three certified special education teachers, each of whom also has a subject specialization, form the core of a small, yet challenging and creative secondary educational program. Unlike public school teachers, they work year-round to help the students become re-invested in their education, future careers and plans for the next step. They are supported by a full-time teacher assistant, who helps out with classroom activities and can give that special extra attention when needed. Each student is assigned one of the teachers as a guidance counselor, to provide personalized academic direction and help.
Residential Staff
The heart and soul of the treatment milieu, seven educateurs work directly with the students in their daily lives. These residential staff, all with BA degrees, are focused on teaching the "art of living" through the daily activities and encounters of the Castle experience. In the process of implementing out-of-school activities and daily routines and guiding the students through these events; they teach effective problem-solving, decision-making, coping skills and a new sense of confidence and achievement. One of the educateurs serves as a primary counselor to each student, and is instrumental in designing an individualized program plan for that student that fits with their therapeutic goals. Supplementing their work are the overnight staff, present to provide safety and supervision in the sleeping hours and a good wake-up.
Clinical Staff
The Clinical Coordinator heads the clinical team of family therapists, the medicating psychiatrist and our school nurse. Each child and family has a clinical case manager, who also serves as their family therapist while at Castle and coordinates the overall treatment plan for the student at Castle. Because the goal is almost always the re-integration of the student back into the family, the clinical focus is on this relationship. The clinical case manager is the critical link with the family, the outside treatment team and the Castle team in designing and implementing a treatment plan. One of the clinicians also manages the substance abuse treatment and runs a weekly substance abuse group at Castle for those students identified as having this issue.
Support Staff
Our Administrative Assistant, among other things, manages the logistics of the students' schedules, including outside doctor, dentist and therapy appointments. She works closely with the parents in scheduling to assure minimal conflicts with school and other important student activities. We also have a wonderful cook, who provides nutritious and appealing meals for the students, and a couple of great part-time maintenance staff.
|
|
|
© 2006
|
|
