| New
Perspectives
- Oct, 1993 Issue #24 |
INDIAN TRAILS (A Home
For Girls)
Spokane, Washington
Michael & Jeanne Young
509-328-3391
The Young's have a community
oriented/family living program for 6 girls ages 8 to 18 in
northern Spokane. They have been working with children for
ten years in Spokane, and their program is tailored for failed
adoptions, FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), and FAE (Fetal Alcohol
Effected) children. Most of their experience has been with
public placement, and they feel they have a good program to
also offer to private placements. They describe their girls
as ones "who are lacking in self confidence, self esteem,
GOOD JUDGMENT, self control, and personal responsibilities,
but who have excellent potential. Typically, these are girls
who are determined to do their own thing without any consequential
thinking." They have had good luck in helping parents obtain
3rd party payment.
Their "girls attend public school
where an individual educational program is designed to meet
their special needs." They say that one of the most difficult
problems is how to handle the discipline problem. In response,
they have developed a Token Economy System, which they have
found "has been very effective in decreasing inappropriate
social behaviors and increasing not only appropriate social,
but also, academic behaviors." They see inappropriate behavior
as "disrespect for others, behavior attitudes, and the refusal
to follow directions." Each girl starts each week with enough
points to enjoy all privileges. She receives a check on a
form for inappropriate behavior (each represents a loss of
points), and the total points remaining at the end of the
week dictates the amount of privileges (if any) remaining,
and also the general standing on a three tier level system.
They welcome inquiries, and their
brochure states, "Drop In Anytime!!" When I dropped in, they
were gracious hosts and their home was clean, comfortable
and seemed more than adequate.
The Young's also offer short
term respite care by the day, week, or month.
Copyright
© 1993, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced
without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper
publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
|
