The primary goal and mission of Brookhaven Treatment and Learning Center is to provide individualized educational, residential, and clinical services to male youths ages 6-14, (or through 8th grade at our Learning Center) who have experienced abuse and neglect and present with significant emotional and/or behavioral challenges. Brookhaven is committed to providing our youths with a therapeutic environment that promotes safety, structure, and the opportunity to heal and transition back into the community and family.
I understand that the Brookhaven program services youth referred by the Vermont Department of Treatment and Learning Center (DCF), Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Agency of Education (AOE), and private placements for serious problems they are experiencing in the home, school and/or community settings.
The Brookhaven Learning Center is a Vermont licensed Independent School with a therapeutic and family based educational curriculum for residential and day students. Teachers utilize diverse teaching methods to present our curriculum and meet the goals of each child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Teachers are trained to consider the emotional state of each student and to tailor educational expectations and teaching strategies to each child’s level of functioning.
Each child belongs to a team, based on their academic and emotional needs. Students are provided instruction in core academic areas Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies as well as Fine Arts, Wellness, activity-based learning, computer education and social skills in a therapeutic milieu.
The education team includes the Executive Director of Brookhaven, Special Education Coordinator, Special Educator, Residential Coordinator, Clinical Coordinator, Group Clinician, Team Leader, Classroom Teachers, and 1:1 Support Staff as needed. Direct Care counselors from the residential program are also present each school day to provide behavioral and academic support to the students in and out of the classroom.
Our mission is to provide educational services to students with emotional/ behavioral challenges and learning disabilities in a therapeutic milieu. Our program offers each student the opportunity to meet their individual needs and harness their own potential in a safe, nurturing learning community.
We offer a structured academic program that meets local and national standards while providing opportunities to practice social skills and group activities. We collaborate with parents, families, guardians, sending schools and other agencies to provide support and wrap around services to benefit our students.
Our team philosophy is to encourage learning through experiential activities as well as supported academic learning. We expect students to arrive each day ready to learn and take educational risks. Our staff will support each student in their personal goals as well as the program structure. We will model and encourage respect, honesty, accountability and cooperation to encourage positive self-image and peer interactions.
Psycho educational groups are provided daily for all students. We design activities and discussion based on developmental level and social/emotional needs for each group, lead by a member of the clinical team. This group is overseen by the Clinical Coordinator and is supported by the Direct Care Staff and teachers, as needed.
The activities and exercises in group are designed to encourage the pro-social skills that enhance feelings of well-being and positive self-esteem for our students. All exercises are designed to stimulate the children to think creatively, expand their minds, explore their values and beliefs, and safely consider and practice change where change is needed for personal growth.
Each summer Brookhaven offers a therapeutic day camp. Camp Haven runs for 6 weeks and is the Learning Center's Extended School Year (ESY). Our team of teachers, counselors and clinicians create a host of activities to enhance academic achievement and self-esteem in children with a history of failure and conflict.
By signing this consent form, it is my understanding that the youth in question is experiencing problems within the home, the community or the school that necessitates an alternative education placement at this time. In addition, Brookhaven will provide therapy services when the services are identified in the youth’s IEP. The type of therapeutic service provided (Family Services, Individual) will be determined by the Clinical Team at Brookhaven.
I understand I need to provide contact information and be available for any emergencies (medical and/or psychological crisis). In the event that Brookhaven staff is unable to contact me I authorize the Brookhaven staff to arrange emergency medical, surgical, dental, psychiatric, optical or psychological treatment, which in the opinion of Brookhaven is deemed necessary to the well-being of the youth.
I understand Brookhaven will not allow a youth to leave the premises via a transport/bus which in the opinion of Brookhaven is deemed necessary due to instability and/or crisis. Instead, Brookhaven will request the parent/guardian to arrange pick up by the guardian/parent or identified family support with permission.
Furthermore, it is understood that even though the personalized records of the youth remain in strict confidentiality, data can still be collected on the youth for use in composite studies.
Thus, I agree that the management and control of the youth in questions, will, henceforth, be under the primary responsibility and management of Brookhaven Treatment and Learning Center. I understand they will make decisions concerning appropriate educational activities for the benefit of the youth in question.
I understand Brookhaven’s Learning Center is not an acute crisis intervention program. any youth who presents in a state of crisis that rises to the level of threatening harm to others, or harm to self is required to be screened by an approved Screener designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health, despite skilled professionals available at Brookhaven (and other organizations). This is per Vermont Statute titled 18 V.S.A.
I understand I will be contacted to pick my youth up for a mental health screening in the above situations which in the opinion of Brookhaven is deemed necessary to the well-being of the youth.
In signing this consent form, I agree to adhere to the Brookhaven Treatment and Learning Center program policies and procedures (concerning the interview process, intake process, intake, program design, transition and completion) as described here within.