Treatment Programs
Children at Epworth Village may be placed in Residential Treatment, Day Treatment the Epworth Village Learning Center or Outpatient Services. We provide services to children between the ages of 8 and 21 years and grades 1-12. We can serve 62 children in one of our six, residential treatment programs and approximately 25 children in the other services we offer. That means, every day, we have more than 80 children within our system of care. This does not include the hundreds of family members and caregivers who are included in the child's treatment.
Children are referred to our program from a variety of sources. Parents sometimes seek out our program, Health and Human Services caseworkers, foster parents, schools or pastors are just some examples. Each child that is referred to our program must meet specific diagnostic criteria that are specified within the current Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The following are some of the disorders we treat at Epworth Village:
- Oppositional Defiant Disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
- Anxiety/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Bi-polar disorder
Level System
The Epworth Village program includes a five-level incentive system emphasizing positive client growth and change. The incentive program is designed to motivate clients to practice responsible behaviors. The program operates from the concept that children want and need limits and positive reinforcements that meet their level of functioning. This incentive program has two distinct dimensions. Levels regulate the amount of autonomy a client earns outside the living unit, and frequent evaluations regulate privileges the client earns.
Family-Centered Treatment
Epworth Village psychotherapy services are based on the family systems approach. Ten, Masters Level therapists include the whole family in the treatment process. Our focus is on creating change within the entire family system.
We take family involvement seriously. In fact, acceptance for placement depends, in part, upon the willingness of the family to participate in treatment. Psychotherapy services include, but are not limited to family therapy twice a month, individual therapy once each week, and group therapy daily. A Board Certified Adolescent Psychiatrist is on campus on a weekly basis and oversees the Inter-disciplinary Team. The psychiatrist interviews each client at the time of placement and at least once each month thereafter, unless otherwise determined.
Life Skills
Life Skills training is the residential component of the program. Our staff of six, Unit Managers and approximately 80 Life Skills Trainers provide a safe, positive, reliable, consistent and structured environment within our six, residential facilities. There are Life Skills trainers on duty and awake 24 hours each day.
- A Primary Life Skills trainer is assigned to each client. The purpose of this is to encourage the development of a trusting relationship.
- Life Skills classes will be attended by all clients and involve skills which will improve the client's independent living needs such as relationships, substance abuse issues, cooking, laundry, job search, reading, etc.
- Community involvement is also an important aspect of the Life Skills portion of our program once the client has moved up within our level system.
Education
The Epworth Village Learning Center is the school portion of our program. We provide Level III Special Education and regular education to clients following the guidelines of the Nebraska Department of Education, Rule 18.
Course work is coordinated with a client's home school to facilitate a smooth transition into and following treatment. Class work is individualized and teaching is provided in small group settings. Classes in all academic subject areas are available and a hands on approach is utilized whenever possible.