Mountain Valley Treatment Center
Haverhill, NH

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What Is Penikese

As perhaps you have heard, the Becket Family of Services, working with the Family Support Collaborative, has been asked to create a new vision for the former Penikese Island School. This new program, Penikese, will be a small, non-profit, residential treatment program for young men (ages 14 to17) with substance abuse issues - and will be located on Penikese Island in Massachusetts's Buzzards Bay. We plan to open on July 1.

The following is the profile of whom we serve.

Penikese is a small, non-profit, residential treatment program for young men with substance abuse issues. Penikese is located on Penikese Island in Massachusetts's Buzzards Bay. The Penikese approach utilizes evidence based treatment practices that are woven into our island environment and emphasizes experiential and holistic learning as additional platforms to reach and inspire these young men struggling with addiction. Penikese Island is part of the Elizabeth Islands located off Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard. Our administrative offices are nearby in Woods Hole. Penikese Island is a pristine 75-acre wildlife sanctuary with a rich maritime history. While residents (whom we refer to as "Islanders") share a common and powerful experience, Penikese shapes its interventions to address personal needs. This, combined with solid evidence and abstinence-based clinical approach, makes us a uniquely effective choice for young men in crisis. Our setting creates a genuine, work-intensive and interdependent community where Islanders and staff work together for the common good. This fosters the development of improved coping skills that are essential to a successful transition.

Who Attends Penikese?

Penikese serves young men ages 14 to 17 in need of intensive treatment for addiction to alcohol and other drugs. A typical length of stay varies from 60 to 120 days. Most Islanders have co-occurring conditions and have become alienated and isolated from family and friends. Many Islanders and their families have unsuccessfully tried to address their issues through other approaches, including outpatient treatment. Some Islanders have experienced periods of limited sobriety, but have fallen back into old patterns resulting in relapse. Others have seen their addictions result in school suspensions and/or expulsion, as well as legal issues. Ultimately, Penikese serves young men and their families who are looking for a pathway from despair to hope.

Clinical Model

Penikese's clinical model employs evidence-based treatments to address issues of addiction and co-occurring mental health difficulties. The principles of the 12 Step program of recovery are at the core of the Penikese culture. It is within this framework that we integrate therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Family Behavioral Therapy (FBT). Recovery is further supported by our holistic approach and an emphasis on mindfulness based stress reduction practices. These have all been researched and found to result in positive outcomes in the treatment of addiction.

Family Involvement and Transitional Support

Recovery is a family process and at Penikese our families are an integral part of treatment. Evidenced based practices, including Family Behavioral Therapy, are employed to best achieve a stable and successful transition of our Islanders. Education and skills essential to addressing recovery are provided to families to best equip them for the challenges of reintegration.

Academics

Many of the young men who come to Penikese have experienced some interruption in their academic experience due to their addiction. While at Penikese, Islanders are able to recover academic credits using a blended learning approach that integrates a computer-mediated curriculum with self-study. Our academic curriculum, developed by Blueprint Education, provides a wide range of courses at both the middle and high school levels.

Life on the Island

Life at Penikese promotes the holistic growth of Islanders. On a daily basis, they are involved in Island stewardship activities, from cooking, to landscaping, gardening and caring for the island's animals. Islanders eat fish they catch, lobster they trap, and shellfish they harvest. They use boats and kayaks that have been built on-site, and live in premises that they help maintain. These activities build self-esteem and promote skills needed for re-engagement in the world around them.

Staffing

Penikese staff work in rotating interdisciplinary teams that live on the Island. Each team includes an experienced clinician and a recovery specialist to ensure that individual treatment plans and 12 Step approaches are followed. They are supported by a professional administrative team that regularly visits the Island and a family support counselor who supports families and aftercare planning.

Fees

Penikese charges a daily fee for services. Opportunities for insurance reimbursement may be available depending on individual policies.

For information about referrals, available openings, and tuition:
Penikese
P.O. Box 161, Woods Hole, MA 02543
(508) 548-7276
admissions@penikese.org
www.penikese.org