Residential Treatment Components
Our comprehensive treatment approach aims to ensure the active involvement of all supportive individuals who have a genuine interest in the well-being of the adolescent. Each client within our program sets personal goals and objectives and their broader support system is essential in helping them reach and maintain these stated goals.
Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA)
The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach is an evidence-based program where the therapist, relying on cognitive behavioural techniques, seeks to identify the reinforcers that could motivate adolescents to substitute positive pro-social activities for the reinforcing function of alcohol and other drugs. Staff are trained and certified in a series of directive but non-confrontational therapeutic procedures designed to facilitate discussion, even when addressing problematic behaviour.
The CRA model is one of the few that has been repeatedly recognized over a substantial number of years as being significantly more effective than other clinical approaches. It has been reviewed and endorsed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) at the US National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). The following quote is an extract from The Canadian Network of Substance Abuse and Allied Professionals, a CCSA initiative:
“In nearly every review of alcohol and drug treatment outcomes, CRA is listed among the approaches with the strongest scientific evidence of efficacy; however, it is not widely used or even known by many clinicians who treat individuals with addictions. Adding to this disconnect between research and practice is the fact that three of the four commonly-cited meta-analyses of alcohol treatment list CRA as one of the most cost-effective treatments available.”
In individual, group and family counselling modalities, A-CRA addresses topics such as:
· Communication
· Problem Solving
· Prosocial Recreation
· Relapse Prevention
· Job Finding
· Anger Management
The A-CRA program also incorporates 4 highly structured sessions for parents/caregivers, with a goal of enhancing relationship harmony and understanding between the parents and adolescents. Out-of-town caregivers can be linked by videoconference services provided by the Ontario Telemedicine Network to participate in these caregiver sessions.
For more information about the A-CRA program, the program manual can be downloaded.
| acra_manual.pdf |
Contingency Management
Contingency management is essentially a point system (consisting of positive and negative behavioural consequences) used in our residential settings so to promote positive change and rewarding healthy behaviours and attitudes. The emphasis is on rewarding residents for completion of tasks and routines (e.g. cleaning room) as well as doing things that are particularly helpful (e.g. assisting another client or staff member). Residents can lose points based on their lack or participation in certain tasks and/or for demonstrating negative attitudes or behaviours (e.g. swearing). Even though rewards are minimal in way of financial value, contingency management techniques are remarkably effective at enhancing and motivating adolescents to undertake adaptive behavioural change.
Psychoeducational Group Programming
Psychoeducational groups address such topics as aggression replacement training, safety groups for trauma and addiction, health and wellness groups, communication and problem-solving groups, relapse prevention and drug refusal groups and social skills training, pro-social recreation, and basic life skills (e.g., cooking, banking).
Pro-Social Recreation
Recreational and healthy activities are a critically important and enjoyable aspect of DSYTC programming. Experiencing healthy, fun and pro-social activities in a non-using environment has many benefits – including a reduction in boredom and other drug use triggers and an expansion of a client’s potential reinforcer system. Outings and activities include regular walks/hikes, sports, museums, plays, art, and a variety of other leisure activities.
Academic Programming
Residential clients receive individualized academic programming and are able to earn high school credits through our partnership with the M.F. McHugh Education Centre. For those youth who have completed high school, alternative academic programming will be arranged (e.g., subject review, college/university preparation, etc.). Academic programming is available from September through June.
Here are copies of the weekly residential programming schedules for the male and female campuses.
| copy_of_weekly_schedule-carp_female_campus.xls |
| copy_of_weekly_schedule-carleton_place__male_campus.xls |