Support Services
Behavior Modification
An important part of the Children’s Home experience for children, ages 5 and above, is the behavior modification program. Little Boys and Girls and the Teen Boys and Girls residential departments use a behavioral modification program based on the Teaching Parent Model. The major parts of this model are:
- A motivational point system;
- Youth centered self-government system;
- Learning four basic social skills; and
- Life skills and knowledge which children can use in community and family settings.
This system has been refined over the years through research by practical application and assessment for effectiveness.
Case Management
Case managers assist resident children and their families in a number of ways, including acting as the child’s personal advocate and link to community resources via referrals and/or mediation services. Additional case management services include:
- Family support services.
- One-on-one support for children with special needs.
- Family mediation.
Victims of Crime Assistance (VOCA)
The Victims of Crime Assistance Program offers children who have been victims of physical and/or sexual abuse and neglect counseling support during their stay at the Wichita Children’s Home. The VOCA program also provides compensation application forms for submission to the Attorney General’s office in Topeka KS. The VOCA program employs a social work supervisor, a Master’s level social worker, and two Bachelor’s level social workers, one full-time and one half-time. The VOCA program receives consultation services through the Wichita Child Guidance Center.
Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric consultation is offered through the Wichita Child Guidance Center for children needing assessment or ongoing treatment. Wichita Children’s Home consulting physicians monitor the residents’ psychotropic medications.
Drug and Alcohol Services
Our in-house certified substance abuse counselor provides drug and alcohol assessments and evaluations. Alcohol/drug prevention and education groups, Children of Alcoholics survival skills groups, and Alateen are also available at the Home. The certified substance abuse counselor directs and coordinates these groups. The substance abuse counselor is also licensed to make alcohol/drug assessments of parents of the children who are in residence at the Home. The substance abuse counselor may assist the child’s social worker/guardian with chemical abuse interventions when needed for the child or the parent of a child in residence.
The substance abuse counselor also works with the Street Outreach staff to provide assistance to youth who have alcohol/drug use and abuse issues of their own, or parents with substance abuse issues. Mediation between parents and children is also a responsibility of the substance abuse counselor when the issue between the child and parent relates to substance abuse.
The substance abuse counselor provides information in the form of community presentations concerning chemical abuse, its signs and symptoms, and effects on the body. The counselor provides referral information concerning treatment programs and assists with a parents’ support group which serves parents whose children are truant from school and may have alcohol/drug abuse issues.
Health Services
One part time Registered Nurse and one full time Licensed Practical Nurse are employed by the Children’s Home. Together they provide the residential center, the BRIDGES Independent Living Program, and the family foster homes with a comprehensive nursing service. Among their responsibilities are Kan Be Healthy screenings for all children, monitoring medications, and coordination of free health care for the residents. A nurse is on-call 24 hours a day. In addition, we have availability to an on-call physician, and Wesley Medical Center pediatric residents provide care in the Home on a weekly basis.
Education
Wichita Public Schools USD 259 provides an educational coordinator for all children in crisis living in shelters. The coordinator ensures appropriate transportation is provided; needed materials are available, establish goals, work to resolve problems children may have in the classroom and communicate regularly with each child’s teacher throughout the school year.
|
