Client Orientation

When a child arrives, he is provided with an orientation to the program, a tour of the house and school and a copy of the resident handbook/pamphlet containing his rights and responsibilities and complaint procedure.  The child is also introduced to key individuals within his program e.g. case manager, clinical coordinator, primary worker and school principal.  The residence rules and routines are explained and the relationship between the resident's engagement in his treatment and his eventual return to his family's home, kinship care or independent living is discussed.

Bedroom Set-up

Each child has a private bedroom that has alarms on the doors and windows to ensure the safety and security of the child and program.  Children are not permitted to go to the bedroom area of other children.  Staff make random and routine bed checks at night.  Children have a bed and a dresser unit for storage of toys and personal belongings.  Children are able to decorate the room to some degree to personalize the space.

Group Activities

Within each program, children participate in weekly group sessions lead by program staff that enhances their emotional skill set.  These will include but are not limited to:

·        Social skills

·        Anger Management

·        Conflict Resolution

·        Healthy Relationships

·        Substance Abuse Education

·        Life skills

·        Creative activities (crafts, camping, etc.)

As the needs of the client population changes, the skill building elements of the program are adjusted accordingly.

Physical Activity

Physical activities are a positive and necessary part of the program.  Children need to learn pro-social ways to use time and energy, to prepare them for future, less structured placements.  Team sports encourage socialization and cooperation and provide an appropriate release for built up energy.  Where appropriate some children may participate in community sports and recreational activities. Each child is assessed individually.  Physical activities are a part of the house program, day program at school and children may have the opportunity to join organized community activities.  Participation in recreational activities is not dependant on “good” behavior; it is in fact part of the therapeutic process.

Outings

Children will have access to community outings as organized by the program team leader.  These outings are generally well structured and supervised by Bayfield staff. The frequency of these outings usually increases during the summer months. Examples of these outings are:

·        Camping and hiking at provincial parks

·        Swimming at public beaches

·        Exercising at the YMCA

·        Community sporting events

·        Music lessons

Special outings to Canada’s Wonderland, the Ontario Science Center, Toronto Blue Jays games, etc.

Consecon Campus

Within the Consecon campus there are four residences designed to provide a therapeutic, clinically monitored milieu.  A brief description of each home follows.

Main House

Residents who have been identified upon referral and/or assessment with mental health needs will be admitted to the Main House.  The age range within the Main house will be 11-18 years. 

Extension House

Residents who have been identified upon referral and/or assessment with mental health needs and who range in age from 11-18 years will be admitted to the Extension House program.

Manor House

Children under the age of 12 years who have been identified upon referral and/or assessment with mental health and/or developmental delays will be admitted to the Manor House program.

Admission House

Residents from within the continuum of Bayfield residential programs who require a smaller living environment as demonstrated by chronic and treatment resistant behaviour will be transferred to the Admission House for stabilization and continued treatment.

Program Goals

• Develop impulse control

• Learn to assume responsibility for aggressive or harming behaviour

• Improve self-esteem

• Promote positive peer interaction

• Feelings awareness

• Identifying cognitive distortions/thinking errors

• Identifying ways to interrupt patterned behaviours

• Address victimization history/experiences of trauma

• Empathy for others/impact of behaviour on others

• Skill developments: anger management, problem solving, social skills

• Healthy relationships, identity and sexuality/education (including the needs of gay, bisexual and transgender youth)

• Development of social supports

• Community reintegration and support plan

• Family involvement where appropriate

Marmora

Bayfield's Marmora St. Program has been designed as a treatment home within the community of Trenton.  This program will serve boys between the ages of 12 and 18 years.  Marmora St. is a 24 hour staffed residence and offers similar structure and supervision as the main Bayfield campus program located in Consecon. 

The Marmora St. home addresses the needs of children and youth with conduct disorder, mental health concerns or a dual diagnosis.  The home provides a specialized approach in that there is a strong focus on community reintegration and involvement in developmentally appropriate activities.

Children placed in the Marmora St. program access all academic, clinical, recreational, vocational components available to the Bayfield clientele.  This home provides single bedrooms to all residents and the opportunity to participate in individualized and group activities. 

The Marmora St. program provides a living environment for children and adolescents to benefit from inclusion in a community setting while still receiving the necessary structure and support.  Residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of community activities appropriate to their developmental ability.  This includes recreational as well as employment opportunities.  

Marmora St. provides a safe and secure environment where the boys can learn to make good decisions about school, recreation, peers and employment while living in the community.  This program allows children to develop confidence where support and understanding fosters development.   

Program Goals

• To help individuals experience successful reintegration into community living with the emphasis on decisions and responsibilities.

• To provide a safe and stable environment in which individuals can realize their plan of care goals.

• To provide opportunities for living skills to be applied through situations, encouraging and developing confidence, abilities and good decision making skills.

• To encourage personal development and growth through education, employment, recreation, religious practises and prosocial community activities.

• To provide services as needed in conjunction with the individuals case management team including education, counselling, health care and family where appropriate.

• To encourage exploration of self while integrating into the community by developing employment skills and goals to foster the understanding of choices regarding career options.

Skills Groups

Throughout the course of a child’s placement at Marmora St. he will have the opportunity to participate in psychoeducational skill building groups.  These groups are facilitated by childcare therapists working in the residence on a weekly basis.  Topics include:

• Social Skills Training

• Anger Management

• Healthy Relationships

• Sexual Education

• Substance Abuse Education

• Life Skills development

• Creative Events (camping etc.)

Rednersville Rd

Children who will be placed within the Rednersville program have been diagnosed with multiple mental health needs including bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and also struggle with learning disabilities.  The current treatment teams within Bayfield will recommend children/youth for transition to this program based on need, ability to travel daily to and from school and current behaviour issues. 

The Bayfield Rednersville program provides residential treatment to boys between the ages of 11-18 years.  The children who will be placed in this program currently reside within the larger Bayfield campus milieu.  There are 9 single beds within this program.

Program Goals

• Increase Impulse Control:  Stop, Think, Act, Self-talk and Understanding of Consequences
• Promote positive peer interactions
• Increase self esteem
• Address own victimization/experience of trauma
• Feelings awareness
• Healthy relationships
• Empathy development regarding others feelings/needs/impact of own behaviour
• Skill development: anger management, social skills, problem solving
• Development of social supports e.g. who is in my life to help me
• Development of prosocial values and activities within the community
• To assist the child in experiencing success in school

Skill based Group work

The Bayfield Rednersville program will provide an open ended curriculum of core skill building groups facilitated by program child care therapists.  This includes the following skill development groups:

• Social skills (8 weeks)

• Anger Management (8 weeks)

• Life Skills (12 weeks)

• Sexual Education (12 weeks)

• Relationships: Building Successful Relationships, Dating Violence and Abuse (5 weeks), What is Love and What is Sex (8 weeks)

• Life Steps (12 weeks)

• Outdoor Education (summer and winter camping activities)