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ATHENS ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM
AAEP affords Athens City/County youth a
strength-based, alternative education program that is staffed by a
multi-disciplinary professional team, credentialed to holistically
address all six life domains:educational/vocational, medical/substance
abuse, emotional/psychological, social recreational/peers,
legal/offense specific behavior, and family
relationship/safety/residence. The Program's wraparound continuum of
care replicates The Communities That Care Model of Dr. Richard
Catalano. AAEP
is rooted in social learning theory that utilizes assertive discipline
to strengthen the cognitive and emotional connection between negative
behaviors and resulting punitive consequences. This research-based,
outcomes-focused, cognitive behavior therapy model incorporates
didactic and experiential learning strategies. The result is a learning
environment rich in the protective factors of individualized
educational programming enhanced by clinical services which reduce the
impact of biological, psychological/behavioral and social/environmental
risk factors. Teamwork is internalized as the power of a shared vision
that turns chaos in adolescents' lives into the beginning of dreams.
This establishes benchmarks that lead to the goal of defining failure
as nothing more than an opportunity to do things differently.
The mission of the Athens Alternative Education Program is to
overcome individual weaknesses by building on community strengths. The
vision of the collaborating partners is to help youth turn their
biggest challenges into their greatest opportunities by providing a
continuum of care that fosters positive school adjustment. Focus on
risk and protective factors unifies predictors and descriptors into an
overarching "in vivo" behavioral support framework created through
individual and group counseling for: middle and high school special
education units, short term, intermediate and long term alternative
school placements and day treatment consumers.
The Athens Alternative Education Program Collaborative is
composed of the following agencies: The Athens City Schools,
Nelsonville-York City Schools, The Alexander Local School District,
Federal Hocking Local School District, The Athens-Meigs
Educational Service Center, Health Recovery Services, Inc., and
The Athens, Hocking, Vinton 317 Board.
Athens Alternative Education Program Clinical Services
The Athens Alternative Education Program together with Health
Recovery Services, Inc. offers community support services for students
involved in the alternative school setting.
Students enrolled in the community support services will be
offered daily support by trained certified staff via group and
individual skills training to assist in improving school performance
and achieving academic success.
Community support staff work together with the student and
his or her family, as well as with other involved service providers, to
identify personal needs and set attainable goals. With this
individualized attention, students are able to better navigate their
educational plan and meet requirements, often returning to their home
school or moving on to higher education.
Involvement in the community support program does require a
parent or guardian to initiate service. Students involved will become
clients of Health Recovery Services, Inc. and will receive an initial
assessment to determine program eligibility.
ADOLESCENT DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM
It is the philosophy of the Adolescent Day Treatment Program
that a treatment program can be developed within the youth's community
of the young person who is exhibiting behavior related to the use of
alcohol or other drugs that is harmful to the youth and/or others. In
day treatment, the goal is to aid positive changes in behavior and
cessation of alcohol/drug use without removing the youth totally from
his or her typical environment.
The program is established in order that the youth's family
and home life can be incorporated into the treatment program. It is the
intent of the Day Treatment Program to provide an intermediate level of
care for a youth who has not yet progressed to a behavioral severity
warranting residential treatment, but requires the structure of the day
treatment setting, or for the youth who may need this type of structure
following treatment at the residential level to aid in the re-entry to
his or her home environment. It is the goal of the program staff to
work together with the youth, the youth's family and /or caregivers,
and all other involved service providers to aid in support and positive
change.
Individual, group, and family counseling are principal
treatment approaches used by the Day Treatment Program. Case management
services are also available to each youth involved in the program. A
case manager provides assistance with linkage to other services such as
educational resources, employment opportunities, medical treatment,
etc. The case manager works closely with the primary counselor in
pursuit of the youth's individualized goals.
The Day Treatment Program places a great importance on and
provides time for academics. The program is located on the premises of
the Athens Alternative Education Program which allows the youth the
opportunity to both learn new ways of succeeding in the classroom and
earn credits that can be transferred back to their home school. Also
available are services to assist the youth in preparing for the GED.
Education staff members are trained to administer the pre-GED and can
arrange for the youth to take the GED exam while in Day Treatment.
Transportation services are provided for adolescents
receiving treatment at the Day Treatment Program. Clients are provided
transportation to and from any designated location(s) within our
service area while receiving treatment at the Adolescent Day Treatment
Program.
Referrals can be made to the Day Treatment Program by any
individual associated with the youth: however the parent or guardian of
the youth must make contact with the Day Treatment Program to initiate
services.
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