ACADEMICS

One of our primary goals is to address the ongoing educational needs and status for each adolescent in treatment. We have developed an educational component which improves the attitude, participation level, study habits and academic achievement while your adolescent is in our program. All adolescents are required to attend the HomeBound School (on campus) for three hours each weekday and have two hours of study hall each weekday.

We know how difficult it is for a young person to return to school if they have not had the opportunity to keep academic pace with their peers. For that reason we require the parents to notify the sending school and ask that assignments, books and materials be prepared for the student (see attached "School Letter"). Our Jefferson County Homebound Teachers will coordinate this procedure with you and your home school system. Your child will be required to continue with his/her sending school's course work in our daily school program. Our overall focus on academic achievement is best exemplified by the daily efforts of the Homebound Teachers and Resident Supervisor-Mentor staff who monitor the progress of each individual student.

Staff, students and parents may participate in a scheduled "re-entry school conferences" near the completion of treatment. The Primary Therapist and assigned Homebound Teacher may coordinate this meeting with the home school personnel, parents, and adolescent to maintain the continuity of academic success.

The follow-up on our students clearly supports a positive and sustained level of academic success when they return to their respective "home schools". Our academic program is efficient, effective, and is integrated in our total treatment format.

ACTIVITY / RECREATIONAL

The milieu schedule includes supervised expressive art therapy, nutritional services, health seminars and recreational activities. Our protocol addresses the notion that the lifestyle of some adolescents excludes attention to the personal habits which assist one in keeping the body fit. We recognize that part of the treatment and habilitation process must include physical exercise. AFIC views the adolescent as a whole person in which physical activities interrelate with the daily clinical and therapeutic services and contribute to the well being of the individual. Our objective is to integrate leisure skills into adolescent life so that negative behaviors are replaced with healthy outlets involving other family members, healthy peers, and significant others. The activity therapy component of our program is facilitated by skills of clinicians, consultants and Resident Supervisor staff with a variety of interests and talents.

All activities will be under the direct guidance of supervisory staff and will include: individual and team sports, trail hikes, field trips, stretching and aerobics, volleyball, tennis, swimming, cultural outings and attendance at special events.