Treatment Team
At SUWS Youth we believe that successful treatment is best accomplished in small groups and an emphasis on individual attention. For this reason, we limit student groups to a maximum of eight children led by a core treatment team that includes one Field Supervisor and two Field Instructors. With a student to staff ratio of 2½ to 1, students receive the personal attention and care they need to ensure a positive, self-affirming experience.
A SUWS Youth Field Supervisor is responsible for the therapeutic evaluation and counseling of the student group. A supervisor works closely with each child to help him or her determine the attitudes and behaviors that are negatively impacting their self-perceptions. By pinpointing and examining these self-limiting beliefs, the field supervisor can work with parents, counselors, consultants, and schools to map out customized individual treatment plans.
Field instructors live and work with the students for the entire course. Instructors plan and teach day-to-day activities and monitor the safety and welfare of the group. Prior to each course, instructors undergo training in non-violent crisis intervention, first aid, and therapeutic processes. Each team of instructors is equipped with two-way radios, allowing for communication with on-call field supervisors, logistics personnel, and office staff 24 hours a day.
Education Credit
On their first day with SUWS Youth, al students receive a curriculum manual that contains philosophy, practical skill instruction, stories, journal assignments, and history and science lessons. Students are often able to receive transferable credit for completing their SUWS Youth curriculum.
Psychological Testing Services
Dr. Chris H. McRoberts, Ph.D. and his staff at Psychological Testing Services use assessment procedures that evaluate a child in three major categories: cognitive, emotional, and behavioral.