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Considering a Boarding school
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<blockquote data-quote="JJJ" data-source="post: 462900" data-attributes="member: 1169"><p>Some things to think about...</p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">Suggested Questions for Residential Facilities Prior to Placement</p><p>Before the initial visit: <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ask for the following in writing prior to visit. Including: program description, policies and procedures regarding home visits, phone calls (receiving and initiating), behavior management, crisis intervention, physical restraint, safety issues, participation in religious services and activities, meals, activities available after school/evenings/weekends, medical and therapeutic services, transition procedures to home/community, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Read all the above and observe during visit that the information you were provided matches what you are seeing and hearing.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ask to visit the specific building or unit your child will most likely be residing in.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Is the residential facility accredited? By whom? Ask what the requirements are for their particular accreditation and a copy of the last review of their facility completed by the accrediting agency.</li> </ol><p><strong>During the initial visit: </strong> <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">If you did not receive copies of the facility's policies and procedures prior to the visit ask again. Don't leave without them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Try to visit during a time that the residents are at home. Observe interactions of staff and residents while on your tour.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ask to at least see sample schedules of activities for after school, evenings and weekends. Take copies home with you if possible.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What are the job duties of the person showing you around? You want to talk to and ask questions of one of the staff people that are actually working in that residence on a consistent basis. Not someone who just stops in once a week to conduct a group therapy session. And not just an intake worker.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What is the staffing pattern at the residence? Are people assigned to work the same shift several days in a row or is a different person working every afternoon, evening? What is the turnover rate for residential workers and therapists?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What accommodations are made for residents that have allergies? To foods, laundry detergent, soap, mold, etc?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Will your child have to give up their medical doctor, psychiatrist, therapist and refer only to the facility's personnel? Is the facility willing to work with doctors and therapists you and your child already have a relationship with? Will your child's medication be changed by the medical staff of the facility immediately upon moving in? Who will monitor your child's medication?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What is the training of the staff? In behavior management, crisis intervention, for medical emergencies, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Does the staff liaison with school personnel? How? How often? Will you have to request their input and/or presence at every IEP meeting?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Is the facility clean? Paint not peeling? Furniture and carpeting in good repair? Are you comfortable with your child actually living in this environment? Remember, this is not a short vacation.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Relate to the staff specific behavioral incidents and ask how they would be handled in the residence. Note later if the responses follow the policies and procedures you were given. Are you comfortable with their responses?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ask about any concerns that are specific to you and your child.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How does the facility staff define success for their residents? What is their success rate? Where do the residents go when the placement ends; back to parents home, independent living, college, other residential facilities? Does the agency operating the residential facility have adult services/programs that your child could transition into if necessary?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Is it possible for you to talk to former residents or parents of former residents?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ask for examples of how previous crises were handled. Such as: violence outbreaks, physical injuries, sexual abuse, deaths of residents, runaways, alcohol/drug abuse, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">If a resident runs away or is hospitalized can they return to the facility?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ask about the clinical component. What kind of treatment is provided to residents on a regular basis? How much? What type? What are the training and credentials of the personnel providing treatment? How will you be informed of your child's progress in treatment? Will you be able to talk to each individual member of your child's treatment team whenever you want or will your communication be limited to one team member of their choice and when will the communication occur? Is it required that parents attend weekly or monthly meetings on site to maintain your child's placement here?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Where do all the residents go to school? Do you have a choice in the matter? Does your child? Is your home school district involved? If not, how will you be kept informed of your child's educational progress? How involved is the relationship between the residential staff and the school staff! Do they have regular meetings together to specifically share information and coordinate their efforts in assisting the residents' progress toward their goals?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Will you be allowed to make unannounced visits after your child is placed at this facility?</li> </ol><p><strong>After the visit: </strong> <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Review the written material you were given. Does what you saw and heard match the program in the written material?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Were you comfortable with the staff you interacted with?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Were you comfortable with the other residents?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Do you feel you can trust these people?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Do you agree, or are you at least accepting, of their philosophy and the resulting policies and procedures? If not, keep looking. You won't feel better later .If you just have more questions, call and ask or return for another visit.</li> </ol><p>Written by the ICG Advisory Council, January 2001.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JJJ, post: 462900, member: 1169"] Some things to think about... [CENTER]Suggested Questions for Residential Facilities Prior to Placement[/CENTER] Before the initial visit: [LIST=1] [*]Ask for the following in writing prior to visit. Including: program description, policies and procedures regarding home visits, phone calls (receiving and initiating), behavior management, crisis intervention, physical restraint, safety issues, participation in religious services and activities, meals, activities available after school/evenings/weekends, medical and therapeutic services, transition procedures to home/community, etc. [*]Read all the above and observe during visit that the information you were provided matches what you are seeing and hearing. [*]Ask to visit the specific building or unit your child will most likely be residing in. [*]Is the residential facility accredited? By whom? Ask what the requirements are for their particular accreditation and a copy of the last review of their facility completed by the accrediting agency. [/LIST][B]During the initial visit: [/B][LIST=1] [*]If you did not receive copies of the facility's policies and procedures prior to the visit ask again. Don't leave without them. [*]Try to visit during a time that the residents are at home. Observe interactions of staff and residents while on your tour. [*]Ask to at least see sample schedules of activities for after school, evenings and weekends. Take copies home with you if possible. [*]What are the job duties of the person showing you around? You want to talk to and ask questions of one of the staff people that are actually working in that residence on a consistent basis. Not someone who just stops in once a week to conduct a group therapy session. And not just an intake worker. [*]What is the staffing pattern at the residence? Are people assigned to work the same shift several days in a row or is a different person working every afternoon, evening? What is the turnover rate for residential workers and therapists? [*]What accommodations are made for residents that have allergies? To foods, laundry detergent, soap, mold, etc? [*]Will your child have to give up their medical doctor, psychiatrist, therapist and refer only to the facility's personnel? Is the facility willing to work with doctors and therapists you and your child already have a relationship with? Will your child's medication be changed by the medical staff of the facility immediately upon moving in? Who will monitor your child's medication? [*]What is the training of the staff? In behavior management, crisis intervention, for medical emergencies, etc. [*]Does the staff liaison with school personnel? How? How often? Will you have to request their input and/or presence at every IEP meeting? [*]Is the facility clean? Paint not peeling? Furniture and carpeting in good repair? Are you comfortable with your child actually living in this environment? Remember, this is not a short vacation. [*]Relate to the staff specific behavioral incidents and ask how they would be handled in the residence. Note later if the responses follow the policies and procedures you were given. Are you comfortable with their responses? [*]Ask about any concerns that are specific to you and your child. [*]How does the facility staff define success for their residents? What is their success rate? Where do the residents go when the placement ends; back to parents home, independent living, college, other residential facilities? Does the agency operating the residential facility have adult services/programs that your child could transition into if necessary? [*]Is it possible for you to talk to former residents or parents of former residents? [*]Ask for examples of how previous crises were handled. Such as: violence outbreaks, physical injuries, sexual abuse, deaths of residents, runaways, alcohol/drug abuse, etc. [*]If a resident runs away or is hospitalized can they return to the facility? [*]Ask about the clinical component. What kind of treatment is provided to residents on a regular basis? How much? What type? What are the training and credentials of the personnel providing treatment? How will you be informed of your child's progress in treatment? Will you be able to talk to each individual member of your child's treatment team whenever you want or will your communication be limited to one team member of their choice and when will the communication occur? Is it required that parents attend weekly or monthly meetings on site to maintain your child's placement here? [*]Where do all the residents go to school? Do you have a choice in the matter? Does your child? Is your home school district involved? If not, how will you be kept informed of your child's educational progress? How involved is the relationship between the residential staff and the school staff! Do they have regular meetings together to specifically share information and coordinate their efforts in assisting the residents' progress toward their goals? [*]Will you be allowed to make unannounced visits after your child is placed at this facility? [/LIST][B]After the visit: [/B][LIST=1] [*]Review the written material you were given. Does what you saw and heard match the program in the written material? [*]Were you comfortable with the staff you interacted with? [*]Were you comfortable with the other residents? [*]Do you feel you can trust these people? [*]Do you agree, or are you at least accepting, of their philosophy and the resulting policies and procedures? If not, keep looking. You won't feel better later .If you just have more questions, call and ask or return for another visit. [/LIST]Written by the ICG Advisory Council, January 2001. [/QUOTE]
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