Program Overview | Southern Arizona | Yavapai County, Arizona | New Mexico

Out-of-Home Placement for Youth

Group Residential Services

Intermountain Centers operates five group residential facilities in Tucson where approximately 50 Seriously Emotionally Disabled children reside at any one time. The children receiving Intermountain residential services have typically been removed from their families by Child Protective Services due to abuse or neglect but may also have been referred to our agency by tribal child welfare agencies and by other behavioral health agencies. All five of the residences are located in average residential neighborhoods in midtown or on the east side of Tucson. Four of the residences are group homes, one of which is a Level II Residence. The fifth facility is an apartment complex that houses the Semi-Independent Living Residential Program for 16 and 17 year olds. All of the residential care facilities have intensive staffing of one staff member to every two or three children.

 

The Youth Residential Program

The Youth Residential Program is a highly structured social and personal training program which is implemented in a family-style, community-oriented environment. Each child’s strengths and needs are assessed upon entry into the program. An individualized behavior plan, building on his/her unique interests and skills, is built for each child. The treatment plan is executed by creating levels of achievement for which points are earned for exhibiting and maintaining the desired appropriate behaviors. The focus is to develop a daily routine and sound structure for all children, and to teach the children to function constructively and responsibly within the normal activities of daily family and community life at home, at school, at work, and in the community. Every direct care staff member assumes the role of teacher. The staff present opportunities to every child to participate in positive skill-building activities and develop healthy educational, recreational and leisure skills. Each child is rewarded for adopting and retention of “replacement” behaviors—productive behaviors which crowd out the former unhealthy behaviors and replace them.

Attendance and performance at school is an important part of the Intermountain residential program. Allowances and many privileges are determined by attendance and performance at school. In addition to an emphasis on education, Intermountain strives to develop each child’s:

An integral part of the treatment program is developing pro-social skills, the motivation and interest to behave well in the larger community. The children progress through a four-level system. Within each level, objectives specific to the individual needs of each youth are determined and frequently updated. At each level, the child’s privileges increase as they demonstrate the skills and motivation necessary to take greater responsibility for himself/herself and for his/her future. The rate at which each child progresses through the system depends upon his/her success at meeting the requirements of each level.

Increased individual participation in the community is carefully included in each child’s treatment program as the youth progresses through the level system and exhibits the ability to act responsibly. Team staffings for each child are held every six weeks with the child’s family and social service representatives in attendance.

The Staff of the Youth Residential Facilities

Intermountain’s Youth Residential staff consists of residential workers, part-time consultants and trainers, therapists, psychologists, behavioral technicians and organizational support staff. Residential direct care staff members meet Arizona Behavioral Health Service qualifications for paraprofessional workers. Supervisory staff members meet Behavior Health Service qualifications for providing clinical supervision. All staff complete academic and practical intense training course before being given the responsibility of caring for youth. The design and implementation of each youth’s treatment program and the residential workers’ duties is supervised by the Director of the Youth Program, a professional psychologist with more than 30 years of experience in the field of child care and psychology.

Contact and Referral Information

Mike Stoutimore, PhD
Intermountain Centers for Human Development
P. O. Box 17749
Tucson, AZ 85731-7749
Telephone: (520) 721-1887
Fax: (520) 721-0069
Email: mikes@ichd.net

Success Story

Julie’s New Start at Angel House

Julie is a fifteen year old who has received residential support services at Angel House twice! Her first stay began after she was removed from her parents’ home because she was being physically and sexually assaulted by her alcoholic father. Her mother, a chronic drug user, was in treatment at the time of her initial removal from home. Then, 13 years old with significant hygiene issues due to her abuse, Julie arrived with her head shaven, in total physical disarray. The staff found her bright and built on her unique talents. When Julie was moved to another group setting, she became difficult to manage, inattentive to her studies and developed autistic tendencies. She was returned to a therapeutic environment at Angel House. The staff welcomed her back, delighted to get a chance to build further on her positive life skills. Happy and productive at Angel, Julie’s studying at the Tucson Arts Academy, enjoys the library, is expanding her computer skills, and is working on better hygiene habits. Angel House has provided Julie with a safe and secure home environment while she is in the process of being reunited with her mother!