People R Us - The People We Help

REFERRAL / ADMISSION
People R Us will serve up to 20 adolescent males beteen ages 13 to 18. Individuals eligible for admission to People R Us are voluntary or involuntary admissions referred by the judicial system or by other government, non-profit, or private agencies. This center serves delinquent and dependent males who are suffering with mental health and / or substance abuse behaviors. There is no geographic limitation although the primary service area is the five county Philadelphia metropolitan area.

COMMUNITY
Rules-safety Expectations (cooperation) Values respect of others (and self) When interacting with clients, staff will ACKNOWLEDGE GOOD BEHAVIOR through positive reinforcement, giving frequent praise (empathically), rewards (use of rec. room, TV, games, outside activities), focus on solutions rather than blaming when processing with clients, ignore-mild negative attention seeking behaviors, be consistent, and use contracts for managing behaviors. In individual counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy will be used to help clients use positive thinking and goal setting in order to motivate them to make positive changes in their lives.

The structured daily groups will be aimed at helping clients learn adaptive skills to help them function adequately in their natural environment. The groups will focus on teaching:

• Problem solving skills (identify problems and generate solutions)
• Social skills (assertiveness, verses aggression);
• Positive coping skills (anger and frustration management)
• Responsibility and safety (decision making and judgment in relation to drug use)
• Self-awareness (personal strengths and realistic expectations)
• Self-esteem/confidence; Relaxation techniques.

Academics (tutorial support systems in place to educate the resident population in prepared and structured educational mandates and stipulations). Dinner (all residents are present)

Chores/Study Hall Completion of assigned chores for accuracy and completeness. (Supportive systems in place and a review of staff assisted academia) Recreational Therapy (multi-phases games and activities that promote appropriate social norms through recreation, unification, amalgamation and structured activities).

PM Goals/Group-Suggested Topics:

• Career Objectives/Why?
• From Delinquency to Determination
• Identifying Social Ills within Self
• Voluntary Subjects from the Resident Population

Snacks/Showers (concepts to be implemented and observed) Lights Out! - (walk through by staff members)

**Weekly Family Therapy Sessions**

ALL GROUP ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENCHANCE THE THERAPUTIC VALUE OF THE CLIENTS WHILE THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF PRU. THE GROUPS ARE CENTERED ON THE CLIENT INDIVIDUAL EXEPERINCE AND ARE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON RELATIVE TOPICS.

Learning Tools to be Used in our Daily Groups and Trainings

Showers/Dress (Hygienic concepts implemented) Breakfast (all residents are present) Morning meditation/Daily reflections Light exercise Community meeting
Goals/Group-Suggested Topics:

• Addiction as a Disease
• Generational Contributions to Addiction
• Family -Systems Contributions to Addiction
• Identification of the Youth's Personal Cravings
• How to Successfully Resolve a Craving
• Developing a Personal Strategy for Craving Resolution
• Multi-Systemic Consequences of Drug Use
• Living a Sober Life

Academics (tutorial support systems for reading evaluating appropriate subjects relating to the educational process and determining the deficiencies of the resident)

Lunch (all residents are present) PM- Group Sessions-Suggested Topics:

• Triggers/Anger/Hostility
• Why the Necessity to Lie/Consequences
• Is Spirituality Necessary, Why?
• Abusive Personality; Exacerbated by Substance Misconduct, Fact or Fallacy?
• Gambling Addiction: An Overlooked Adolescent Behavior
• Compliance to the Re-direction Process
• Participation in a Foreign Environment/How?