Treatment Philosophy
Lehigh Valley CHOR Community Programs’ philosophy is based on the belief that children and adolescents should receive treatment in the least restrictive environment while maintaining community safety. We believe an effective way to achieve this is by providing a continuum of care with varying levels of intensity and recognize the importance of family involvement in providing services to meet the needs of the identified youth.
Our programs utilize an assertive approach when working with pre-adjudicated/adjudicated dependent and delinquent youth/families in a community setting and recognize that repeated and relentless efforts may be necessary to assist in developing compliance with basic program expectations.
We believe in a team approach although a primary worker is assigned to each youth. We believe effective program development engages referral sources in strong partnerships and collaborative relationships, the foundation of a successful community. The program utilizes community resources. We realize youth/families that utilize these supports will be more successful. The program maintains a close working relationship with CHOR residential programs, which can provide various ancillary and/or placement services if necessary.
In-Home Service Program (ISP)
The ISP is designed as a freestanding, step-down, or aftercare service model. The ISP is an individualized and creative approach for males and females ranging from 12 to 20 years of age. The program involves case management, direct service, and supervision in the community, school, and home milieus. The program attempts a minimum of three weekly contacts with an average length of stay of four to six months. The BARJ philosophy is woven throughout service delivery. Services are individualized in an effort to address client needs.
Family Program (FP)
The FP is designed to provide in-home and on-site services to unbalanced family systems. Direct contact is made with the family and also the primary identified youth within the family constellation. Service provision is individualized and flexible to meet the needs of the family and referring agent. The program attempts a minimum of one family and three individual contacts weekly. Services are based on the needs of the family and referral source.
Intensive Family Program (IFP)
The IFP provides five direct contact attempts weekly within the family system. Typically, there is more than one interventionist and a family worker involved with the case. There may be no primary identified youth and the family may need various levels of intervention. The five attempted weekly contacts can be distributed in various ways throughout the family system, with a varying length of stay. Services are individualized based on the need of the family and the referral source.
Residential Prevention Program (RPP)
The RPP is designed to provide intensive intervention to delinquent/dependent youth of either gender from 10 to 20 years of age.
The RPP gives high risk youths an opportunity to prevent residential placement and serves as a 'step down' program for youths who are returning early from residential care. This program offers daily contact with five attempted face-to-face weekly contacts. Parent and youth groups are available with the remaining services being provided in the community, schools, and home. Services are individualized in an effort to meet client and referral source needs.
Individual and Family Sessions
Individual and Family Sessions provide individual and/or family sessions in the home, community, and/or on-site. These sessions can provide the following services (but are not limited to) parenting skills, life skills, family sessions when the youth is home on pass from residential placement or other services. This service is best utilized when a youth is in transition from placement; the family system needs to work on issues while the youth is out of the home; and to go through closure after the child/children are removed from the home.
Community Programs Include (But are not limited to):
- Weekly youth groups
- Weekly parent group
- Weekly family sessions
- Curfew monitoring
- Life skills
- Alcohol and other drug education/prevention
- Drug screening
- Transportation (for youth attending group)
- 24 hour on-call availability
- Anger management
- Employment searches
- Community/victim empathy
Criteria for Admission
Children, adolescents males, and females ages 5-20 years of age who have difficulties being successful in their community, home, or school milieus. Individuals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. However, clients generally determined to be unacceptable are those with repeated suicide attempts, extreme violent behavior, and severe behavioral disorders.
To Make a Referral Procedure
Contact Lehigh Valley CHOR Community Programs at (610) 758-8414 during business hours (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM). Pre-placement interviews may be required prior to admission.
