Abraxas I - Abraxas Youth & Family Services

ABRAXAS ITHE ABRAXAS PHILOSOPHYWe are here because there isno refuge finally from ourselves.Until we confront ourselves inthe eyes and hearts of others,we are running.Until we suffer them to shareour secrets, we have nosafety from them.Afraid to be known, we canknow neither ourselves nor anyother. We will be alone.Where else but in our commonground can we find such amirror? Here together, we canat last appear clearly toourselves, not as the giant ofour dreams, nor the dwarf ofour fears, but as an individualpart of a whole with a share inits purpose.The road toRECOIn this ground we can eachtake root and grow. Not aloneanymore as in death, but aliveto others and ourselves.- author unknown

HEALING.Abraxas I is a multi-service campus. We offer five different treatment optionsin effort to meet each resident’s individual needs.For young men ages 13 to 18+• Intensive Drug & Alcohol Treatment for Boys*For young women ages 13 to 18+• Intensive Drug & Alcohol Treatment for Girls*• Social Training and Education Program (STEP)• Intensive Open Residential Program (IORP)• Residential Mental Health Services (PRTF-Psychiatric Residential Mental Health Services)*Fully funded by Managed Care for Pennsylvania youth who meet the requirements for this level of treatment (ASAM Level III.1 or III.5)Nourishing Personal Growth and DevelopmentOur young men and women participate in a variety of therapeutically structured activities including individualcounseling, group counseling, family counseling, clinical study, AA/NA groups, life skills education, recreationand volunteer work in the local community.Abraxas I operates under a trauma-informed care model and utilizes a number of evidence andcompetency based curricula.Drug and Alcohol Treatment specific curricula• Living in Balance• The Truth About Drugs• Mind Over Matter• A Woman’s Way through the 12 Steps• Project AlertOther curricula to address residents’ risk/need as identified through theYouth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS)• Aggression Replacement Training (ART)*• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)• Girls Circle• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/Thinking Errors• Victim Awareness• Transforming Anger into Personal Power• Gun Violence prevention• Gang Prevention/Intervention – The Phoenix Curriculum **• SELF – Psycho-Education*Offered In the Intensive Open Residential Program (IORP) and Residential Mental Health Services**Offered in the Intensive Open Residential Program (IORP)To view a complete list of the curricula by service line offered at Abraxas I via theYouth Level of Service Domain Curriculum Matrix, please contact your local Client Relations liaison.Strengthening Family ConnectionsWe believe that each resident’s family is an extremely valuable piece of the treatment process. Counselorswork to engage family members in each resident’s recovery from the time of admission. Families are invitedto attend/participate in all treatment planning conferences. We encourage on-site family visits which includefamily sessions led by a counselor. Abraxas I will assist families with transportation to visit with their son ordaughter. Both teleconferencing and video conferencing are available if on-site visitation is not possible.

The road to RECOVERY leads toACADEMICOur students fill the school long before the bell rings almost daily to catch up orto move ahead. They embrace the student-focused, supportive approach of theeducational staff who help them achieve their goals every day.The on-site Arlene Lissner Middle/High School is a private school, fully accredited and licensed bythe Pennsylvania Department of Education. Our school is staffed by certified teachers who arecommitted to assisting all of the students with their educational needs and goals.Arlene Lissner Middle/High School operates year-roundand offers several educational possibilities:• Students can continue to attend school, accrue credits and transfer those creditsback to their home school upon discharge from the program• Students can graduate from our school by earning a high school diploma• Students can prepare for and take the GED (Abraxas I is a GED testing site)• Web based college courses through Butler County Community CollegeBecause each student has unique needs and goals,the following educational services are available:• Special Education services• Credit recovery and credit acceleration using Aztec• SMART Board technology• Mobile computer lab• Daily tutoring• On-site certified guidance counselors• SAT instruction and testing• Assistance with completing FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)In addition to our core course offerings, several electives including art, music and family consumerscience are offered. Within family consumer science, students participate in classroom focusedinstruction in parenting, drivers education and housing and money management.We believe in experiential learning experiences and therefore offer a variety of educational fieldtrips to include trout stocking; Erie and Pittsburgh Zoos; Carnegie Science Center, UPMC SportsHealth Complex; college campus tours; Gettysburg Battlefield and local sporting events.

GROWTH.MEASURING STUDENT SUCCESS85% of Abraxas I students gained ½ to multiple yearsgrowth in broad reading from pre-test to post test on theWoodcock Johnson III tests of achievement.89% of Abraxas I students gained ½ to multiple yearsgrowth in broad math from pre-test to post test on theWoodcock Johnson III tests of achievement.83% of students improved in reading.35% of students obtained their GEDor High School diploma.(September 1, 2012 through August 3, 2013)

The road to RECOVERY leads toATHLETIC

ACHIEVEMENT.Athletics not only give young men and women a physical and emotional outlet, but alsoprovide valuable lessons in team work, self-confidence, perseverance and leadership.Our involvement in PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc.) football, trackand field, wrestling (boys) and softball (girls) further illustrates our holistic approach to treatment.The interscholastic athletic programs at Abraxas I take on a much different look than at mostresidential facilities. More than 15 years ago, we started a co-op program with Sheffield Area HighSchool for football. It was, and continues to be a win-win situation. Abraxas provides Sheffield with20 athletes to boost their participation numbers and Abraxas residents are given the opportunity toplay PIAA football. The successful football partnership then led to more opportunities and nowincludes four sports.ATHLETIC HONORSFOOTBALLBig 30 All StarAML All Star (Allegheny Mountain League)District IX Player of the WeekWarren County Player of the WeekDistrict Play-off TeamTRACKNorthern Tier Champions and place winnersWarren County ChampionsDistrict QualifiersState QualifiersState Place WinnersWRESTLINGDistrict QualifierDistrict Place WinnerRegional QualifierWarren County Player of the WeekIn addition to our PIAA teams, Abraxas I provides a number of intramural sports to includebasketball, flag football, softball and volleyball. On-site athletic facilities include a regulation sizegymnasium, fitness/weight room, hand ball court and baseball field.Other recreational opportunities include biking, canoeing, hiking and geocaching through theAbraxas Wilderness Experience Program.

The road to RECOVERY leads toRENEWED SENSEAll kids become a part of the Abraxas I community the moment theystep foot on campus.Our trauma informed care treatment approach, utilizing The Sanctuary Model ® , emphasizes theimportance of community principles in an effort to promote a healing culture. We promote, andthrough Sanctuary residents commit to a culture of non-violence, emotional intelligence, sociallearning, democracy, open communication, social responsibility, and growth & change. Each daybegins and ends with a community meeting in every dorm to share information, make decisionsand offer feedback.Within each individual dormitory community, residents have the opportunity to be selected asleaders by their peers and dorm staff to serve on the Youth Advisory Committee. Youth on thiscommittee represent their fellow peers at administrative meetings and work in conjunction withfacility management to continue to enhance the Abraxas I community.Community ServiceWe believe that all young men and women who come to Abraxas I can benefit from giving back tothe community at large. Therefore we partner with a number of local organizations and offer awide array of community service activities. Through our community service program someresidents have had the opportunity to speak at local schools which has proved to be anespecially powerful experience.Restitution OpportunitiesIn addition to community service, many young men and women owe restitution to their victimsand/or court costs and fines. We offer a restitution program that promotes accountability andcompetency development in which youth are paid a stipend for the work they complete.

OF COMMUNITY.

The road to RECOVERY leads toENDLESSA world of opportunity awaits both at Abraxas I and beyond. We believe it is ourresponsibility to introduce our students to a variety of vocational options. In doingso, we increase awareness, develop basic skills and promote real world learning.In addition to all of our on-grounds opportunities, our unique partnership with the Venango Trainingand Development Center provides our young men and women with “hands on” experience learningand performing various skills.Career and Technical Education• Culinary Arts• Horticulture• Computer Technology• Digital Media• Adobe Software• Computer Repair• Microsoft Office Systems• ed2go – (individualized competencycertification in a selected area)Students can earn certificationsin the following areas:• OSHA 10• First Aid/CPR• ServSafe• Comp TIA Strata• Adobe Certified Associate*• Microsoft Certified Systems*Available only in the Girls program at this time

POSSIBILITIES.Work Readiness ProgramAs part of the Work Force Development Program which also includes our Restitution Program, theWork Readiness Program provides "hands on" experience with an emphasis placed on job training,volunteer work, and employment readiness. Through the Work Readiness Program, students canearn a stipend for the work they complete.High school students can participate in the Work Readiness Program both on and off groundstypically in the evenings and on the weekends.Students who come to Abraxas I with a GED will attend school for half the day and participate inWork Readiness the rest of the day.Students who have obtained their high school diploma are eligible for full time participation in theWork Readiness Program.Higher EducationThrough a partnership with Butler County Community College, students can take web basedcourses while at Abraxas.

OPPORTUN

ITIES AWAITat ABRAXAS I.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Contact your local Client Relations Liaison oremail us at info@abraxasyfs.comAbraxas IP.O. Box 59165 Abraxas RoadMarienville, PA 16239800.352.3402www.abraxasyfs.comAbraxas I is licensed by the Department of Public Welfare, Office of Children, Youth and Families.The Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs are licensed by the Department of Health,Division of Drug and Alcohol Program Licensure (DDAPL).Abraxas I is Joint Commission accredited and partnering with the Sanctuary Institutefor clinical and organizational change.