AVALON CHILDREN’S RESIDENCE

HISTORY AND LOCATION

Avalon Children’s Residence was established in September of 2002 for the purpose of providing residential treatment for boys and girls who have experienced trauma as a result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Avalon also provides residential treatment for children whose needs are complex (mental health concerns, emotional issues, trauma, developmental delay, etc.). Avalon Children’s Residence is located in a rural setting on 8 beautiful acres 20 minutes North East of Guelph, Ontario.

REFERRAL CRITERIA

Avalon provides medium, long term and emergency placements for pre-teen males and females. Avalon residents are classified as either regular hard to serve or high needs residents. This bed classification allows Avalon to accept children that would normally require more secure placements or who are leaving more secure placements. These residents can be accommodated at Avalon as a result of the extensive individual and group programming and the high level of treatment and staff support provided.

Avalon residents are divided into four subprograms; each program has their own therapeutic groups, classrooms, meal times, play times, etc. These programs generally have from four to seven residents and are comprised of the following:

• Rainbow Program: children age 5 to 8 (approx)
• Bridge Program: children age 8 and up (approx)
• Pathways & Frontiers Program: dual diagnosed / complex needs children

DAY TREATMENT

Avalon also provides Day Treatment programming for local children who have had difficulty functioning in mainstream community schools. The smaller class sizes and added treatment components provide these youngsters with the necessary specialized support to help them to overcome their respective challenges. The Day Treatment Program operates throughout the year (including summer months); with individual programs being modified to ensure that the youngsters receive a balance of academics, treatment and recreation. 

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM

Many of the children that reside at Avalon come from environments lacking in structure, consistency and positive reinforcement. Clear boundaries and expectations are provided for the residents at Avalon through a privilege based phase level system as well as through a variety of positive reinforcement programs. Cognitive / behavioural intervention strategies assist the residents with altering or replacing certain maladaptive thoughts with more appropriate cognitions, combined with specific skill development. 

In addition to challenging how a young person thinks and reasons, the Avalon program has a strong behavioural orientation making it ideal for children who are not ready or able to deal with underlying emotional issues. The program provides external structure and routines for children; the goal is to reinforce positive behaviours through the use of immediate positive feedback. The program focuses on reinforcing adaptive behaviours with the expectation that in time, these behaviours will become internalized ways of reacting and responding.

Weekly therapeutic programming sessions include:

·         SNAP™ - Stop Now And Plan (Anger Management)

·         Social Skills (Social Skills, Personal Life Management Skills, Personal Safety Skills)

·         Music Therapy / Music Program

·         Therapeutic Play Group

·         Art Therapy Group

·         Divinity & Environmental Stewardship Group

·         Diversity Group

·         Tai Chi

·         Recreation Therapy Program

·         Therapy Dog Program (when available)

·         Boys / Girls Club

·         Play, Art and Music Therapy are available on an individual basis

·         Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language opportunities are available on a fee for service basis

·         Evening and weekend programming facilitated by residential staff includes: Music night, Sports night, Games night, Craft night and Movie night

A significant aspect of the Avalon program includes individual programming and individual time spent with Prime Workers. Residents meet weekly with their Avalon Prime Worker to formulate goals and address relevant issues. Residents at Avalon participate in individual session time for five to ten hours per week. This time is spent in the following manner:

In Prime Time - residents complete approximately two hours per week working with their Prime Worker on identified issues. Avalon has an extensive library of workbooks and resources geared to all ability and readiness levels. Psychotherapeutic games are used extensively to help the children learn valuable skills in their identified goal areas. Resources are available to address a wide range of treatment needs and target areas such as: anger management / awareness, appropriate personal boundaries, impulse control, empathy training, fire setting, social skills training, coping strategies, relaxation techniques, independent living, loss and grief, and communication skills.

Each resident of Avalon has the opportunity to create and add to his or her personal Memory Book on a weekly basis. Planning and creating the pages for Memory Books is completed during each resident’s weekly Prime Time sessions. These books include a collection of pictures, cards, certificates, awards, and various other items that are significant to our residents during their placements at Avalon. While working on their Memory Books, residents are encouraged to explore their feelings about their past, current and future relationships with others. 

Out Prime Time - residents earn approximately two hours per week of recreation time in the community with their Prime Workers after completing their required individual session time. Outings may include going out for meals, to the dollar store, to local parks, hiking, bike rides, etc. YMCA passes are also provided for the children and they are able to participate in a full range of activities at the YMCA during their Out Prime Time. There are a number of options available for children to join community teams and clubs, including: Scouts, Brownies, Babysitting classes, Flag football, Hockey and Basketball.

EDUCATION

Avalon residents attend one of four on site Section 23 classrooms operated by the Upper Grand District School Board. Mainstream school placements may be available for residents who graduate from the on site school, or for residents who are more suited for community school placements. On-site athletic programming is considerable as the six-acre property is equipped with a large gymnasium, basketball courts, a trampoline, a baseball diamond, a soccer field, sand pits, swings and climbing equipment. Report cards are provided at the end of semesters. In some cases, detailed Progress Reports may also be provided.

GOALS FOR EACH RESIDENT / REGULAR GOAL SETTING

Avalon utilizes a goal focused, strength based approach with the residents in our care.  Goals / goal areas are formulated prior to admission if at all possible, and within the first two weeks of placement at Avalon at the latest.  To formulate these goals, the social history and all documentation gathered and provided by the placing agency are utilized.  The goal setting process is a collaborative one; all persons having involvement with the child / youth are consulted and are involved (i.e. parent / guardian(s), program staff, agency worker, child/youth, teachers, etc.).  Goals are set to ensure success is achievable and measurable; goal areas are continuously assessed and reformulated as progress is achieved.

Every ninety days (or earlier in some cases) from the date of admission, workers and guardians are invited to join the resident and Avalon staff in reviewing and setting goals. Generally two goal areas and the specific strategies to be implemented are identified for each reporting period. At these goal setting meetings, successes are congratulated and barriers to success are identified.

PROGRESS REPORTS

In addition to one to one reports for high needs residents, Avalon provides extensive progress reports every 30 days, 90 days, six months, one year, and every six months thereafter from the date of admission. These reports follow the ONLAC format and provide detailed information. In addition to information on the groups outlined above, these reports also include information relating to: Emotional and Behavioural Development,  Identity, Family and Social Relationships, Social Presentation, Physical and Mental Health, Personal Hygiene and Health, Self Care Skills, Community Involvement and Recreational Activities, and Effective Behaviour Management Techniques.

STAFF TEAM

Staff members are carefully chosen on the basis of academic qualifications and practical experience. Non-judgmental and non-authoritarian attitudes on the part of the caregivers are seen as critical components of the treatment process for the residents. Therapeutic groups are facilitated by individuals with more specific skills / training (Art Therapy, Therapeutic Play).

REFERRALS: 

We encourage placement workers who wish to place a youth at our facility to submit a referral package for review. If the individual will benefit from the program, a pre-placement visit including the youth’s Social Worker, potential candidate and family members (if applicable) will be arranged. If you would like a tour of our facility or more information, please feel free to contact Dawn Hunt @ (519) 833-1088.