Program Aspect:
The Residential Group Care (RGC) is situated on 35 acres beautiful acres in northern Hillsborough County, known as the Lake Magdalene campus. The Program provides residential group care to 40 dependent children between the ages of 6-17 placed by the Community Based Care Lead Agency, Hillsborough Kids, Inc. (HKI) (www.hillsboroughkids.org). Placement in the Program is intended to be short term, pending identification of a more permanent placement by the Lead Agency.
The RGC Program is licensed by the State of Florida Department of Children and Families based on criteria found in the Florida Administrative Code 65C (https://www.flrules.org). The Program provides 24 hour, 7 day a week awake supervision. A staff-to-child ratio is maintained at a minimum of 1:6.
The children are housed based on age, gender, and developmental needs.
Education:
Although approximately 90% of the ESC children attend neighborhood, community schools, the Dorothy Thomas Center, a K-12 center-based exceptional education program, is located on the RGC Lake Magdalene Campus. The school serves community children as well as RGC children identified with special needs.
Medical Care:
The Division of Children’s Services employs three full time medical professionals; 2 Registered Nurses (R.N.) and 1 Certified Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) to provide care to the RGC children. Medical staff is on site during extended business hours and are on-call all other times (24 hour, 7 day-a-week availability).
Clinical & Counseling Services:
The Division of Children’s Services employs the full time services of several licensed clinical psychologists, and other clinical staff. The RGC Program enjoys on-going access to the Clinical Services Program which includes psychologists and a staff of assessment specialists, Masters level therapists, and doctorial interns. A consulting psychiatrist is also available through the Clinical Services Program. Clinical Services provide full time Master’s level clinicians to provide therapy to the RGC children.
A full complement of clinical services is available, including Behavioral Health Overlay Services (BHOS). In addition to crisis counseling, the therapists provide; individual therapy, group therapy, recreational therapy, as well as family therapy to the RGC Program children and their families. Psychological testing and medication management is also available.
In addition to the therapeutic clinical support, 3 Bachelor’s level Treatment Counselors are also dedicated to the RGC Program. Each performs professional duties such as; client intake, social assessments, community liaison work, supportive counseling, and case management and aftercare.
The RGC Child Care / Direct Care staff is specially trained to reinforce the established therapeutic milieu. Use of the Non-Abusive Psychological and Physical Intervention (NAPPI) Model (http://www.nappi-training.com) forms the cornerstone of the program’s caring, quality environment.
Child Nutrition Program:
Operates 24/7/365 by a Certified Nutritionist. Each year, the program serves nearly 20,000 lunches to community children attending the Dorothy Thomas School, which is co-located on the Lake Magdelene Campus. In addition, breakfast, dinner and snacks are also served – usually over 300 meals per day. The program is a participant in good standing with the USDA’s food and nutrition program through the Department of Education (DOE).
Other Complementary Services:
Family Unification Night (FUN) – A monthly family / meaningful connection person evening that combines fun, learning and bonding. This service has been offered to families for the past 12 months; several reunifications and one adoption have resulted.
Job Coaching – Through a partnership with Hillsborough County’s Health and Social Services Division, the ILP youth have been assigned a professional job coach to assist with vocational interest and ability, job developing and job coaching – including job retention skills.
Culinary Arts Program – The Children’s Services Nutritionist is a certified ‘Serve Safe’ Examiner. The ILP male youth have all graduated with ‘Serve Safe’ Certificates, which make them more valuable / competitive in the food service job market. Expansion of this program is anticipated in the coming year.
Pen Program – This ‘business model’ educational program involves the children in all aspects of the process; they make the pens from raw materials (usually exotic woods), develop spreadsheets to track production and develop profit / loss reports. Pens are available for sale to the general public. Creation of the finished product greatly enhances the children’s self-esteem; for their work, the children can choose monetary payment when the pen is sold, or they can have the pen to give as a gift to loved ones.
|
