ROANE YOUTH ACADEMY
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Roane Youth Academy is a 56-bed residential treatment center for boys ages 12 to 17 years old. The center provides a vast array of programs in categories of Counseling, Education, Clinical and Medical services for dependent or neglected youth with various degrees of mental health needs. Services are provided 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY & GOALS
The program provides intensive mental health treatment services using a trauma-informed approach. Youth participate in individual, family, and group therapy sessions, social and life skills training, victim impact awareness and restorative justice programming. The length of stay is 3-6 months for intensive mental health youth, and 30-60 days for the sub-acute psychiatric treatment center; ultimately, a youth’s length of stay depends on the progress the youth has made in the program toward reducing criminogenic needs and risk factors, addressing the youth’s treatment needs, and increasing the youth’s protective factors. The anticipated average length of stay depends on the youth’s pace of success in completing the individualized treatment plan and goals.
The program’s goal is to equip youth for successful reintegration into the community to live productive, prosocial, and crime-free lives within a permanent placement. Our intensive program is facilitated by an integrated, multidisciplinary team of specially trained youth care, medical, clinical and administrative professionals. Utilizing evidence based, trauma focused treatment,we strive to provide a caring and therapeutic environment that allows at risk youth to manage difficult emotions, behavioral concerns, and develop prosocial conduct, while preparing them to integrate back into the community.
We do this through individual, group, and family sessions, direct guidance on each of our residential dorms, and life skills training through therapeutic activities designed to aid them in getting the most out of their life. Our New Beginnings psychiatric residential program takes Roane Academy’s model one step further.
Our dedicated professionals have designed this program to meet the needs of youth with emotional regulation and all the unique challenges that go along with them. A clinically rigorous program with an enhanced medication management and counseling program, our youth work through a program intended to increase emotional stability, competency, self awareness, self-esteem, and prosocial conduct. Our trauma focused program also provides life skills training as well as part of a holistic endeavor to truly give our youth a fresh start.
TYPES OF SERVICES AND TREATMENT
Roane Youth Academy provides a vast array of programs that focus on Mental Health Treatment, Art, Music, and Recreation Therapies and Education. Youth receive groups daily, individual therapy weekly and as needed, and family therapy twice a month with birth and foster parents. Treatment modality focuses on trauma-informed care along with more intense and specialized treatment for the sub-acute unit. Facility has faith-based services offered through a local church.
Youth participate in TOPS (Teen Outreach Program), completing service-learning projects that benefit the program and community. Upon discharge, youth will continue to receive services for a period of time determined by the continuum contract with Omni Community Health. Medical/health services are provided by on-site nursing as well as a contracted physician and psychiatrist.
Roane Medical Center is used for emergency hospital services. Roane County Health Department is used for dental services. Individuals are provided breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks daily, which are managed by a licensed dietician, with special medical diets and religious diets provided as needed.
Youth receive nightly and monthly incentive activities and canteen. Input on incentives is provided by the Youth Advisory Board. The facility is required by contract to maintain a 1:5 ratio of staff to individuals, on first and second shifts and a 1:8 ratio on third shift.
ACADEMIC/VOCATIONAL TRAINING
The Education Department is staffed by a Principal, two (2) full-time regular education teachers, two (2) full-time special education teachers and one (1) teacher’s aide.
Youth attend school the same number of hours as regular Roane County Schools.
REFERRAL SOURCES & FEES
Facility serves dependent/neglected youth who need intensive mental health treatment.
The program is contracted under the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS).