Program outline
Horizon Family Homes and Human Services Inc. provides in-home residential care through its Adolescent Living Program and operates under a Ministry approved Group Care license. Designed to meet the needs of youth 13 -18 years of age, the program is aimed at recognizing and providing the skills to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of positive development, stabilizing youth behavior, as well as motivating and guiding youth towards developmental milestones and positive goals and decisions for the future. The aim is for the youth to find stability and security and gain a sense of belonging so that they may be capable and motivated to reach their potential and learn the skills necessary to transition successfully to independent or semi-independent living. The goal is provide the youth with life and social skills and a sense of belonging in a comfortable and normalized environment along with the development of a support system between the youth, their dedicated long-term caregivers and community networks that would be beneficial and sustainable for years to come.
We believe that a home can be structured in a way that can promote positive development. The program aims to provide the skills to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of a youth’s positive development, and motivating and guiding youth toward developmental milestones, positive decision making and goals for the future. This is done through the employ of techniques and framework of a traditional Therapeutic Milieu in which the existence of the group promotes empathy for others, teamwork, understanding and the development of social skills and is used in a home-care setting by caregivers who aim to build trusting relationships. Using the combined elements of routine, consistency, positive peer pressure, trust, safety and repetition, our milieu is designed to have a therapeutic effect, which provides an idealized setting for youth to work through their emotional, behavioural and social issues. We have applied the concepts of a traditional “therapeutic milieu” and applied them in this out-of-home care setting to have a therapeutic effect/impact. Youth learn healthy living patterns through constant exposure to positive role models, a stable environment and consistent expectations.
Our environment and approach is complemented by individualized programming, based on needs identified at pre-placement/admission, and adapted throughout the length of stay, that utilizes positive reinforcement and coaching to help each youth build on strengths, learn new skills, improve school retention, accomplish goals and address and overcome obstacles. Therapeutic programs target problematic behaviors, or strengthen important skills specific to each youth and are designed to be fun and reward-based and encourage participation.
The programs we offer are delivered by a team of trained Youth Workers. The program utilizes evidence-based outcome measurement tools to collect information and data regarding the youth’s progress toward goals that can be reviewed at the Plan of Care meetings. The programs are always approved by senior management.
We believe that positive change and success can be accomplished by monitoring and engaging with youth while addressing their challenges and obstacles as they emerge daily. The Executive Director, Program Manager, and Management Team and Youth Workers all work together to create an environment that will develop healthy relationships, motivate youth to do well, stabilize, and address problematic behavior, and promote self-growth and positive social interaction. The goal is to build a positive peer culture in the home to encourage the overall influence of good behavior and to allow the youth to feel Included and supported in making positive choices and belonging to a stable home.
Staff are trained through in-house training offered during employee orientation. Our staff will be trained by our director to teach consistency among caregivers, consistent expectations among caregivers, positive peer culture, a safe and nurturing environment. Training on document writing, as well as our programming are given during in-house orientation training.
Our staff will also receive training in Triple P Parenting for young children and Teens with focus on sibling groups, Trauma informed practice, Youth Mental Health, Youth Addictions, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, and Horizon Family Homes In-Housetraining around programming and applying theories and an understanding of our Model of Care and Documentation Writing A list of trainings can be provided upon request.