Most of the girls that come to Abbott House experience
some problems that are unique to their individual circumstances.
While many of these girls have experiences sexual abuse,
drug and alcohol abuse, and devastating emotional setbacks,
each girl responds to her situation uniquely. Because
there is no uniform response to victimization, dependency
needs or emotional problems, our program contains unique
individual adaptations.
Individual Therapy and Psychiatric Services
Each girl is assigned an individual therapist who addresses
the psycho/social needs of the girls assigned to them
for regular therapy. The individual therapist is an
essential part of the treatment team and participates
in all of the girls’ planning and regular reviews.
In addition, a psychiatrist is available at the facility
for patient evaluations and regular reviews or follow-up
services.
Sexual Abuse Group
This group is led by a mental health professional and
follows a format adapted for sexually abused girls.
The reoccurring group is intended to help girls come
to terms with their victimization within a supportive
setting in which self expression is encouraged. She
is encouraged to gain cognitive understanding of the
visual, physical and emotional characteristics associated
with her memories. The goal is to relive the trauma
in the present so that the girl can eventually put her
abuse in the context of the past.
Mood Management Group
For those girls who experience persistent feelings
of hopelessness and helplessness we offer a group that
has as it’s primary focus the teaching of alternative
strategies for reshaping thoughts. With the help of
a mental health professional, girls gain perspective
on the dynamics of depression and explore the personal
decisions necessary to mange their moods while they
go on with their lives.
Drug and Alcohol Services
For those girls that meet the criteria for a chemical
dependency diagnosis the agency avails themselves of
the services of a community drug and alcohol program.
Intensive outpatient treatment is provided for those
girls that meet that criteria and their treatment is
augmented with aftercare and AA meetings in the community
for relapse prevention. Typically, girls attend the
outpatient treatment program three hours a day for six
weeks before they successfully complete the program.
While at Abbott House other girls attend meetings for
Children of Alcoholics and Drug and Alcohol Prevention/Education
classes. Each of these services are interactive and
intended to provide both insight and explore alternative
behaviors.
Strengthening Youth and Families
Community Services
One of the cornerstones of the agency’s program
is an emphasis on community services projects to reinforce
responsibility and promote good citizenship. On going
association with Meals-on-Wheels, Salvation Army, local
nursing homes and the Mitchell Park and Recreation program
are integrated into the weekly programming and summer
volunteer activity of Abbott House.
Volunteer activities are a clearly defined way to empower
girls as contributing members of a community. In addition,
these activities promote basic community and social
values and increase the self-worth of the youngsters
who enthusiastically participate in their community
service projects.
Special Services
Routine health care is provided by a full-time Registered
Nurse. A medical assessment is conducted at the time
of admission and referrals are made to address any perceived
medical issue. Emergency and specialized medical care
are always available through agreements with local physicians
and medical facilities. In addition, the agency utilizes
the services of contracted pharmacist, optometrist and
dentist in the community.
Transportation
The agency assists in the transportation of girls for
regularly scheduled home visits during the year. Agency
personnel will work with family members to arrange meeting
locations to make the visits productive. Generally,
the agency will provide a summary sheet that the parent
or guardian is asked to inform us of the girl’s
progress since she was last in the home. |
