AVALON SPECIALIZED SERVICES ADOLESCENT GIRLS PROGRAM

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HISTORY AND LOCATION

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Avalon Specialized Services (Avalon) was established in 1998 for the purpose of providing residential treatment for 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.) In 2008, the girls program moved to a new site twenty minutes North East of Guelph, Ontario. The home is a large, ‘state of the art’, and is located in a rural setting, well back from the road on 25 beautiful acres. All residents have their own bedroom and the home has superior life safety systems.

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REFERRAL CRITERIA

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Avalon provides medium, long term and emergency placements for hard to serve adolescent girls. 

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RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM

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Many of the young women 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 positive reinforcement based check mark system. Cognitive / behavioural intervention strategies assist the residents with altering or replacing certain maladaptive thoughts with more appropriate cognitions, combined with specific skill development.

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In addition to challenging how a young person thinks and reasons, the Avalon program has a strong behavioural orientation making it ideal for youth who are not ready 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 feedback and consequences. The program focuses on reinforcing adaptive behaviours with the expectation that in time, these behaviours will become internalized ways of reacting and responding.

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EDUCATION

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Avalon residents attend an on site Section 23 School operated by the Upper Grand District School Board. Community school placements are also available for residents who graduate from the on site school, or for residents who are more suited for attendance at either vocational or academic community school placements.

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GOALS FOR EACH RESIDENT / REGULAR GOAL SETTING

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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.

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STAFF TEAM

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

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REFERRALS

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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 @ dawn.hunt@avalontreatmentprograms.ca