The ARC Residential Treatment Programs provide residential care, supervision and treatment services for behaviourally-challenging youth. The programs are approximately six to twelve months in length, depending on the needs of the youth and family participating in the Program. The youth served are in the care of the Ministry for Children and Family Development.

ARC Programs Target Population is 'high-risk' youth, and their families. The definition of high-risk is defined as youth with multiple risk factors, including several of the following:

·	youth which have experienced significant life difficulties such as; physical or sexual abuse, family breakdown or alienation, family violence, severe trauma, etc.
·	youth which have significant barriers to healthy functioning such as; severe emotional disturbance, mental health issues or conduct disorders, ADD/ADHD, literacy issues, learning disabilities, etc.
·	youth which have demonstrated significant behavioural difficulties such as; criminal behaviour, substance abuse, aggressive or violent behaviour, sexually intrusive behaviour, sexual exploitation, school suspensions or drop-out, severe parent-teen conflict, multiple placement breakdowns, street involvement, social isolation, etc.

Program Philosophy and Approach

The services and programming of the ARC Intensive Residential Program will be developed and implemented according to ARC Programs' Principles and Philosophy of Service Delivery. The Program will utilize the following approach in providing care to program residents:

• Each youth's individualized program will be child and family-centered, based on the following: individual needs, strengths, interestes/abilities and prefrences, role in family system, developmental stage, educational needs/capacity, cultural identity, socio-economic factors, and interaction/behaviour in his/her environment (peer group, family, school, community).
• Each youth's goals will be individualized and the youth, and family if appropriate will participate in the assessment of their needs and in developing the goals of their service plan. The service planning process will demonstrate a collaborative partnership with the youth, and family if appropriate, and an integratd service delivery approach with the case management team, facilitating a community of interest to support the youth and family.
• All program interventions will be designed to respect the individual's rights and needs, while seeking to utilize the youth's strengths, interests, and abilities to enhance his/her growth, development and self-esteem.
• Youth will be informed of their rights within the program, and of procedures to resolve disputes regarding their care and treatment.
• All programming will recognize the importance of the youth's family system as a constant in the child's life, and where appropriate, to support the youth's ongoing involvement with family members. The program will recognize the parents/caregiver's need for support and rights to complete information regarding the youth's care and service plan, and their involvement will be encouraged and supported during the course of the youth's placement in the program.
• Where the youth's return home is not possible, he/she will be assisted in dealing with any issues of past abuse, separation and loss and prepare him/her in adjusting to a placement in the substitute environment. Wherever possible, ongoing invovlement with family members will be encouraged and supported, while ensuring the safety of the child.
• Youth will be encouraged and supported to develop age-appropriate beahviours and skills through supportive, recreational, educative and therapeutic interventions.
• Behaviour Management techniques will involve the least restrictive interventions appropriate to the situation. The youth will be encouraged to take responsibility for his/her own decisions. The youth will be encouraged to cooperate in developing his/her own individual limits and expectations within the program or family home, as well as logical consequences for their mistakes. The family/caregivers will be provided support and consultation to develop and implement effectice behaviour management strategies within the home environment.
• The structure of the program will support close supervision of residents and immediate accountability for their actions, using incidents of inappropriate behaviour as an opportunity for youth to learn new methods of meeting their needs.
• All Program staff will model healthy behaviour and values in building a trusting therapeutic relationship.

Please utilize the links to view further descriptions of our programs OR through the CONTACT US link above.