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Schools & Program Visits -
Aug, 1993 Issue #23 |
BEND, OREGON PROGRAMS VISIT
by Linda Shaffer
July 30-31 Visit
During a recent visit to Bend,
Oregon, I came away with a good feeling about the healthy
environments and opportunities available to adolescents, young
adults and their families at Northstar Center, Mount Bachelor
Academy, TREX, INC. and the J-BAR-J Ranch.
NORTHSTAR CENTER
Jane Stewart,
503-385-8657
Northstar's Tudor style house
in downtown Bend has that comfortable feeling when you walk
in the door that seems to work both for its young adult population
and their parents as well. Like an independent house on a
college campus --a homey kitchen and dining room, well kept
student rooms, a comfy living room with a fireplace for spending
time or having groups, a small private telephone room, and
a green, flowered yard for cooking out and storing mountain
bikes. And Central Oregon Community College , theaters and
businesses within walking distance. Admissions Director and
Counselor, Jane Stewart, and Program Director,
Dennis Crowell, had a busy week in progress with four
new students, but talked about the independent living style
Northstar offers.
All students enter voluntarily
and are involved in some combination of college, high school
completion, work/internships, community service, main house
living, apartment living, sports, wilderness expeditions,
values clarification workshops, chores, 2 group sessions per
week, and independent living classes. Accessibility by bike
around the small college town of Bend seems to work well for
Northstar's students. Some stay on in Bend after completion
of the program to continue their college education and drop
by or meet downtown casually with Northstar staff who can
offer ongoing supportive resources --a result it appears of
a very healthy educational and transitional year for young
adults ages 17-24.
MOUNT BACHELOR
Sarah Koalkin,
(800)462-3404
Mount Bachelor Academy, designed
by Executive Director Linda Houghton, has recently
completed its new Lodge with a sunken cozy "pit" where all
remove their shoes before entering to maintain a nice soft
feel (and a clean carpet). Highlights of a visit to MBA for
most visitors would probably be the new Lodge with its attractive
living, dining and library facilities up on the hill next
to the gymnasium, and the warm close feeling between students
and staff - which is also extended to visitors. Another pleasing
feature of the dining room is the white table cloths with
each table set and attended to by a student "table head" for
family style dining. Everyone waits to sit down until all
have entered the room and have found their places. What the
visitor sees is somewhat quiet teenage dining, but filled
with energy. Students talk to visitors with ease and openness
at MBA. One young man I encountered seemed destined for a
lot of responsibility somewhere in the world as I saw him
step in and take on internship type responsibilities with
an ease and agreeableness that any family, school or business
would love to have around. A visitor may get to see the comprehensive
role of Academic Director, Pat Savage, and Admissions
Director, Sarah Koalkin, and other staff as they are
very much involved in the school not only administratively
but hands on with each student and in the heart of the program.
TREX, INC.
Gabriel and Anne Rivera,
(800)578-0323
Visiting TREX,INC. meant for
me sitting in a group with Gabriel, 4 teenagers and another
staff member in a wooded setting near still snow-covered Mt.
Bachelor at Sparks Lake. Also, it included spending
time later with Gabriel and Anne and their three young children
at their home.
What TREX offers basically is
an assessment period of three weeks that includes a base camp,
the wilderness, an "intensive" to identify and sort out the
issues, some primitive living skills, plenty of groups, possibly
a trip to the Oregon coast if appropriate and earned, and
an assessment with recommendations of the type of environment
that appears to make the most sense after TREX. There is a
flexibility within the program to do some tailor making as
is called for. TREX is not wilderness survival, the Rivera's
point out. They maintain their program in locations that are
fairly accessible. I'd say talk to Gabriel about specific
needs of specific kids and he will put together the setting
needed.
J-BAR-J RANCH
Rick O'Dell,
503-389-1409
The J-BAR-J Ranch outside Bend
offers some families an interim location for their son when
leaving one program and entering another. They generally are
looking at 1 to 3 days, but will consider each need individually.
Their primary services are to offer a residential placement
for male adolescents, most of whom are adjudicated youths
but with some private placements.
Dinner was happening when I arrived
and all were talkative and amicable. Everyone who was involved
in clean up afterwards (vacuuming included) seemed to know
who they were without any problem.
Most students stay at J-BAR-J
for about 1 year and earn opportunities through a level system
and group process. Level 1 dorm space is very basic (bed,
dresser, nothing on the walls) with other levels bringing
in added decor, living room and finally a shared apartment
on the ranch.
Students attend classes both
on and off the ranch in the public school system and contribute
to the community in a variety of ways. One of the big events
for students is their annual opportunity to have a job at
the Michelob Classic Hunter Jumper Show putting up all the
stalls, helping out with the cleaning, and interacting with
the community through a food concession stand.
Rick O'Dell is the Director for
all questions of placement, short-term and long-term. J-BAR-J
expects to open a girls facility in Sisters, Oregon in the
fall.
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.)
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