Clientele Description

Willowglen Academy accepts referrals for its residential services from the Department of Child Services and the Juvenile Probation System and other sources seeking services for children and adolescents.

Generally, Willowglen Academy accepts referrals for no less than a six-month treatment duration. Typically, referrals will have had multiple placements and possibly rejections from other facilities. Handicapping conditions within an educational context are considered which are of an emotional disturbance although they may include social maladjustment and neurological impairments. Typically these children and adolescents have difficulties with impulse control, a low tolerance of stress and postponed gratification. Some of the children may be persistently aggressive within the family and community setting. Self-help skills and personal hygiene abilities are limited and, therefore, assistance and verbal cues are often required for most basic skills. In most cases, continued care is indicated after discharge, which is planned at the time of admission to Willowglen Academy's program. Therefore, alternative living situations and services are explored throughout treatment.

Acceptable Intake Criteria

Acceptable intake criteria include male and female children and adolescents, ages eight to twenty years of age, with a full-scale IQ score range of 45 to 90. Diagnosis of psychosis and affective disorders, ADHD, functional retardation, schizophrenia, developmental disabilities, adjustment conflicts are all considered appropriate.

Criteria not considered acceptable would be chronic delinquent behaviors. Certain physical and medical problems will be considered for admission on a case by case decision, especially those who are not ambulatory, hearing impaired, blind and pregnant. Those who are considered actively suicidal and critically needing an inpatient settings are not considered appropriate, at least until the suicidal crisis is resolved. Consideration is given to all referrals and the dynamics of each evaluated on the bases of severity and our ability to respond effectively to the needs.

Referrals are made to the Executive Director. Such referrals initially may be of a verbal and/or written nature, and include the necessary historical and evaluative information, including but not limited to: social history, psychological information, psychiatric information, medical history and medication history, educational history, etc. In some instances, these reports are not available; thus it becomes incumbent upon us to provide some assessment services on the front end of the process.

The Admission Committee is composed of the Executive Director, the Clinical Coordinator, the Master Teacher, the Program Director and the Lead Nurse.